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I am writing this on New Year’s Day, the
official release date of my newest book,
Rest: Living in Sabbath Simplicity.
I’m so excited about this book, for a
number of reasons. First, it’s been two
years since my last book (Oxygen)
released, and that feels like a long time.
It’s been a long journey with a few detours,
so I’m delighted to finally have something
to show for all that hard work.
I’m also thrilled with reviews that
readers have posted (click
here to read a few). I’m amazed at the
response to this book, and I feel like God
is going to use it to minister to people. As
a writer, that’s my ultimate goal—to create
well-written prose that shepherds people to
deeper devotion to Christ. To offer, in my
writing, a tool that God can use.
Rest: Living in Sabbath Simplicity
offers a non-legalistic, practical approach
to living a sanely-paced, God-focused life.
I wrote it because I wanted to share with my
readers the life-changing practice of
Sabbath keeping.
A few weeks ago, my assistant Wendy and I
gathered some local readers for a great
luncheon and discussion—in the style of an
“Oprah book club.” We videotaped it, and
we’re currently working on editing that tape
so we can post it on my website, and put
some highlights on YouTube. I’ll post the
links on my blog so be sure to check in
frequently.
Rest is my sixth book. I’ve often
wanted to have some sort of party when my
books have released, but haven’t ever done
that—for many different reasons. But this
time, our book club luncheon felt like
exactly that—a celebration. It brought me
joy, to hear how the book was already
impacting people.
I also feel, for the first time in a
while, that I have the support in place that
I need as a writer. My agent, Chip MacGregor,
is encouraging and wise. His career guidance
has been invaluable. My assistant, Wendy
Rosman, is great at planning events,
organizing my travel, and is a great friend.
My husband, who when the first book came out
nine years ago had his doubts, has become my
strong supporter.
So often, we don’t take the time to
celebrate our accomplishments. We try to do
life on our own, without support of friends
and people who believe in us. If this is
true of you, I hope you’ll take some steps
to change that in 2009. Take time to notice
and celebrate life’s blessings, your own
accomplishments. Don’t try to handle life on
your own; make time to develop friendships
where you can both give and receive.
The coming month is full of events, book
signings, media interviews and so on. Check
the list below to see if there’s one you can
attend or listen to.
We’ve also set up a blog tour. Twenty
different bloggers will be running reviews,
interviews and more during the month of
January. I hope you’ll visit these blogs (click
here to see the schedule) and leave
comments. Each blog on the tour is going to
give away a free copy of Rest, so if you
visit and comment, you could win a book. The
blogs I’ve invited to be on the tour are all
really cool, and I hope you’ll continue to
visit them after the tour. Visit my Deep
Breathing for the Soul blog at
www.keriwyattkent.com/soul/
to get updates on the tour.
We’ve also created a Rest group on
Facebook. If you’re on Facebook, you can
join the group by
clicking here.
Finally, as a gift to you, my readers,
we’ve posted one chapter of the book on my
website. I hope you’ll enjoy it.
Click here
to read the chapter.
Book Reviews
Here are some of the reviews readers have
posted about Rest.
“I grew up in a church that was EXTREMELY
legalistic, and keeping the Sabbath (on
Saturday only, anything else was an
abomination) included a lengthy list of do's
and don'ts and quibbling over what was and
was not permissible. Although I left that
church years ago, I still initially cringe
when I hear the term Sabbath because of the
negative connotations it brings. Kent's book
was wonderfully reassuring and motivated me
to try and reclaim the word and the concept
and institute some rituals/traditions/habits
that bring me closer to God.” (Renee)
“Through her tender-hearted and well
researched writing, Keri encourages her
readers to view the Sabbath as both God's
gift to them and as an opportunity to
reconnect with the Creator and those we
love. She explains not only why it is an
important commandment to keep in our
fast-paced society, but that it is also one
that is not as difficult to respect as we
sometimes think it is. I appreciated that
this book did not contain a list of do's and
don'ts and instead offered helpful
suggestions to use the Sabbath as a time to
refresh, refuel, and rejuvenate. Rest, was
indeed a life-changing read...for me and my
family.” (Angela)
“Keri Wyatt Kent has produced another
thought-provoking, life-changing volume on
living a God-honoring life. She gives
readers practical yet meaningful ideas for
Sabbath-keeping that work with — not against
— the reality of our busy lives. Rest is
replete with Scriptural references,
real-life inspiration and Kent’s
characteristic voice of a wise and cherished
friend. Rest offers a delightful respite
from the ‘shoulds’ and ‘should nots’ of both
legalism and perfectionism.” (Jan)
Read more reviews by
clicking here.
Quotable Quote
“In spiritual rest, we recover our lives.
We discover the gift of community with
people and with our Creator, and the depth,
texture and richness that it adds to our
lives. We get a chance to stop, turn and
really notice the faces of the people
running through life beside us, and feel
grateful for them. This is no small gift.”
~ From the Introduction to Rest
Deeper Connection
What has been your experience with the
practice of Sabbath? What were Sundays like
in your family as a kid? What are they like
for you now? What is one thing you’d like to
change about the way you spend your Sabbath?
(This question is from the study guide
for Rest. It’s available in the book and
also as a free download on my website. Just
go to
www.SabbathSimplicity.com,
and click on the tab for Rest. You’ll
find lots of resources and information.)
Connecting with Keri: Speaking
January 9: Keri will be
speaking on “Six Steps to Simplicity” at a
coffee house night at 7 p.m. at Regular Joe’s
Coffee shop, Algonquin Road, Hoffman Estates
IL. Singer Annie Sander will also be
performing songs from her new CD, Brighter
Day. Annie and Keri will be selling and
signing CDs and books. The first 20 people
will receive a free coffee.
January 10: Keri will
lead a one-day retreat on “Rest” at Grace
Lutheran Church in Woodstock, IL.
January 14: Keri will
be signing books and giving a short
presentation on “Six Steps to Simplicity”
from 6 to 8 p.m. at Spa Avalon in Deer Park,
IL. The spa will be offering free samples of
its services, and refreshments will be
served.
January 25: Keri will
be speaking on “Rest” at Zion Lutheran
Church in Hummelstown, PA at a luncheon,
then signing books.
January 30: Keri will
be speaking on “Rest” at a women’s dinner at
Covenant Presbyterian Church in West
Lafayette, IN.
February 4: Keri will
be speaking on Rest to the women’s
Heart-to-Heart group at the McHenry campus
of Willow Creek Community Church.
Connecting with Keri: Web
Check out Keri’s blog,
Deep Breathing for the Soul, at
www.keriwyattkent.com/soul/
You can read Keri’s latest musings
on the connection between faith and real
life, you can post a question about any of
her books or other writings. Also, during
January, she will be giving away several
copies of her new book, Rest: Living in
Sabbath Simplicity.
I have a guest column
on the Gifted for Leadership blog. Read it
at
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/giftedforleadership/2009/01/the_rested_leaderpart_1.html
As always, I am writing
my monthly “For Your Soul” column for the
Today’s Children’s Ministry website. Check
it out at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/childrensministry/features/foryoursoul.html
Television & Radio
January 6: Radio
station WDJC in Birmingham, AL, will
interview Keri at 9 a.m. CST on their
morning show. Listen on-line at
www.wdjconline.com.
January 12: Radio show
Lifeline from the Master in Atlanta will
interview Keri at 2 p.m. CST. Listen on-line
at
http://www.lifelinefromthemaster.org/
The program airs from 2:30 to 4:30 EST.
January 14: Keri will
be interviewed on the Georgene Rice show,
which airs on 93.9 FM KPDQ in the Seattle
and Portland areas from 4 to 6 p.m. Pacific
time. Keri will be on at 4:30 p.m. Pacific
time. Listen on-line at
www.kpdq.com.
January 16: Keri will
be a guest on The Harvest Show,
broadcast nationally from South Bend, IN. Tune in to DirecTV channel 367, or check your local listings.
January 21: Keri will
be a guest on Midday Connection, heard on
WMBI in Chicago and on Moody Radio
nationally. The program airs from noon to 1
p.m. CST.
January 23: Keri will
be a guest on The Matter at Hand on WGRC in
Lewisburg, PA. The show airs from 11 a.m. to
noon EST, Keri’s interview will begin at
11:30 a.m. EST. Listen on-line at
www.wgrc.com.
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