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Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life - Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award Winner
2011 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award Winner
Many times one sees Roman Catholicism explained using either closely reasoned theology or an appeal to ancient writers of the Church. While both are legitimate approaches, the average reader looking to explore the faith is often left cold. In their collaboration, Why God Matters , Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian, delineate the Catholic Faith as experienced by a pair of average, everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24 percent of Americans who share this religion. In the stories of this pair, one see both ways people come to Catholicism, by birth ('cradle Catholics') and by conversion. Their descriptions of their separate paths thankfully lack the religiosity of the all too common 'and then a miracle takes place' school of religious experience. Rather than blasts of light, fiery swords, spiritual fistfights, and angelic choirs, theirs is the long religious slog of the everyday. The effort that one must put out each day in the long trek to Heaven. What is Catholicism really like? One would be hard-put to find a better verbal painting of the faith so many call their own.
Many times one sees Roman Catholicism explained using either closely reasoned theology or an appeal to ancient writers of the Church. While both are legitimate approaches, the average reader looking to explore the faith is often left cold. In their collaboration, Why God Matters , Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian, delineate the Catholic Faith as experienced by a pair of average, everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24 percent of Americans who share this religion. In the stories of this pair, one see both ways people come to Catholicism, by birth ('cradle Catholics') and by conversion. Their descriptions of their separate paths thankfully lack the religiosity of the all too common 'and then a miracle takes place' school of religious experience. Rather than blasts of light, fiery swords, spiritual fistfights, and angelic choirs, theirs is the long religious slog of the everyday. The effort that one must put out each day in the long trek to Heaven. What is Catholicism really like? One would be hard-put to find a better verbal painting of the faith so many call their own.
114 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2010
About the author
Karina Lumbert Fabian
83 books102 followersKarina Fabian is a science fiction and fantasy writers, author of 16 novels, three anthologies, a devotional and many stories and articles. Her latest science fiction novel, Discovery, features religious sisters in space, and she’s working on rebooting her DragonEye series, which stars a snarky dragon working under the direction of the Church. She teaches writing and is an active member of the Catholic Writers Guild. http://fabianspace.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 25, 2010
I know Karina Fabian best from her speculative fiction–tales of dragon detectives, spacefaring nuns, superhero misfits, and zombie cookery, filled with engaging characters, sly puns, and wry observations on human nature. While her faith informs all her writing (her tagline is “Fiction, Faith, and Fun”), that faith is front-and-center in this very non-fiction collaboration with her father, Steven Lumbert, a Catholic deacon.
There’s still plenty of fun. Why God Matters is primarily a devotional guide, in the spirit of Brother Lawrence’s The Practice of the Presence of God, but it’s also a personal memoir and meditation on the joys and challenges of life, shared by a father and daughter who love each other very much.
The book provides a series of topical meditations, “life lessons,” each with a scripture passage, an excerpt from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a pertinent quotation that summarizes the chapter’s main idea, and a vignette from Karina or Steven.
The vignettes are what really bring this book to life. Karina and Steven share some very personal moments when they’ve recognized God’s presence and intervention in their lives. Sometimes it happens in something as simple as a shared family meal or the give-and-take of a relationship with a friend. Sometimes it’s a life-changing incident, a momentous decision, or a miraculous answer to prayer. These are situations we all encounter, and it’s encouraging to read these accounts of how God met Steven and Karina there and strengthened their faith in the process.
As they note in the introduction, "The stories you’ll find here are ordinary, because quite often, we find our faith in the day-to-day living. After all, what could be more ordinary than taking a step—or a breath? Yet, as St. Patrick said, 'Christ’s breath in mine.'"
This book is written from a Catholic viewpoint with a Catholic audience in mind. I think, though, that any Christian reader would enjoy and benefit from the insights it offers, which transcend sectarian borders. Protestant Evangelical Fred certainly gained a renewed appreciation of how important it is to be aware that God is working in my life every day, and of my corresponding need to respond to that work and cooperate with Him in my spiritual development, becoming more like Him, and participating in the divine nature. That’s what being a Christian, a disciple of Jesus Christ, is all about.
It’s not complicated, but it takes commitment, and you’ve got to keep your head in the game. In its glimpses of one family’s faith journey, Why God Matters illustrates many practical ways to cultivate a daily walk with God. It’s helpful, it’s inspiring, and it’s heartwarming. A great combination, and well worth reading.
There’s still plenty of fun. Why God Matters is primarily a devotional guide, in the spirit of Brother Lawrence’s The Practice of the Presence of God, but it’s also a personal memoir and meditation on the joys and challenges of life, shared by a father and daughter who love each other very much.
The book provides a series of topical meditations, “life lessons,” each with a scripture passage, an excerpt from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a pertinent quotation that summarizes the chapter’s main idea, and a vignette from Karina or Steven.
The vignettes are what really bring this book to life. Karina and Steven share some very personal moments when they’ve recognized God’s presence and intervention in their lives. Sometimes it happens in something as simple as a shared family meal or the give-and-take of a relationship with a friend. Sometimes it’s a life-changing incident, a momentous decision, or a miraculous answer to prayer. These are situations we all encounter, and it’s encouraging to read these accounts of how God met Steven and Karina there and strengthened their faith in the process.
As they note in the introduction, "The stories you’ll find here are ordinary, because quite often, we find our faith in the day-to-day living. After all, what could be more ordinary than taking a step—or a breath? Yet, as St. Patrick said, 'Christ’s breath in mine.'"
This book is written from a Catholic viewpoint with a Catholic audience in mind. I think, though, that any Christian reader would enjoy and benefit from the insights it offers, which transcend sectarian borders. Protestant Evangelical Fred certainly gained a renewed appreciation of how important it is to be aware that God is working in my life every day, and of my corresponding need to respond to that work and cooperate with Him in my spiritual development, becoming more like Him, and participating in the divine nature. That’s what being a Christian, a disciple of Jesus Christ, is all about.
It’s not complicated, but it takes commitment, and you’ve got to keep your head in the game. In its glimpses of one family’s faith journey, Why God Matters illustrates many practical ways to cultivate a daily walk with God. It’s helpful, it’s inspiring, and it’s heartwarming. A great combination, and well worth reading.
October 24, 2011
I was not sure what I would think about this book when I began reading it. I am a Christian but not a Catholic. In fact, I know virtually nothing about Catholicism. I was not sure how much this book would relate to me.
I was so happy to discover just how much I enjoyed this book. Each chapter was written like a mini-devotional, and it hit me right where I was living. Advice was practical, heartfelt, and Biblically sound. It gave me hope for the desperate situations in which I find myself lately. The authors understood what it meant to live out their faith.
I was most pleased that the Bible and Christian principles were emphasized over Catholic traditions. Once in a while, references to Catholic practices I do not practice--praying to saints, rosary beads, etc.--were mentioned, but I did not find these offensive. I found that these were not the emphasis of the book. Praying to God in times of distress and keeping one's faith strong were the most important premises of this book.
This is book I will be keeping and will turn to often when I am going through hard times. I would recommend reading it as a devotional and not just reading it straight through. Each short chapter is thought-provoking for a whole day or week. It will definitely uplift your spirits and return your focus to where it should be--God.
I was so happy to discover just how much I enjoyed this book. Each chapter was written like a mini-devotional, and it hit me right where I was living. Advice was practical, heartfelt, and Biblically sound. It gave me hope for the desperate situations in which I find myself lately. The authors understood what it meant to live out their faith.
I was most pleased that the Bible and Christian principles were emphasized over Catholic traditions. Once in a while, references to Catholic practices I do not practice--praying to saints, rosary beads, etc.--were mentioned, but I did not find these offensive. I found that these were not the emphasis of the book. Praying to God in times of distress and keeping one's faith strong were the most important premises of this book.
This is book I will be keeping and will turn to often when I am going through hard times. I would recommend reading it as a devotional and not just reading it straight through. Each short chapter is thought-provoking for a whole day or week. It will definitely uplift your spirits and return your focus to where it should be--God.
June 1, 2024
Authored by Deacon Steve Lumbert and Karina Lumbert Fabian (a father and daughter duo), this is a book that can be used to inspire as you read how God has worked in the authors’ lives.
I liked how short the chapters were. Rather than dwell on too many examples or drone on to drive a point home, they presented their topics succinctly. This makes it very easy to fit into devotional time.
Another feature I really liked was the inclusion of quotes, both Scripture and from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This provides a painless way to possibly grow in knowledge of the Catholic Faith.
Finally, inclusion of questions for further reflection can open up the reader for conversations with another individual or with God during prayer.
For someone who already ‘gets’ that God is in the small things, this book might not present more food for thought on the topic. However, this text is a bit more approachable than some of the writings by those Saints who have walked before us. Hence, my impression that adults in early stages of developing their faith will appreciate the text the most.
Disclaimer - I received a copy of the book to facilitate a review. All opinions are my own.
I liked how short the chapters were. Rather than dwell on too many examples or drone on to drive a point home, they presented their topics succinctly. This makes it very easy to fit into devotional time.
Another feature I really liked was the inclusion of quotes, both Scripture and from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This provides a painless way to possibly grow in knowledge of the Catholic Faith.
Finally, inclusion of questions for further reflection can open up the reader for conversations with another individual or with God during prayer.
For someone who already ‘gets’ that God is in the small things, this book might not present more food for thought on the topic. However, this text is a bit more approachable than some of the writings by those Saints who have walked before us. Hence, my impression that adults in early stages of developing their faith will appreciate the text the most.
Disclaimer - I received a copy of the book to facilitate a review. All opinions are my own.
September 14, 2010
There are so many wonderful things in this book I’m not sure where to begin. So I guess I’ll start at the beginning. I’m one of those cradle Catholics. For a long time I mistakenly believed I knew all there was to know about being a Christian. A few years ago, through some life-changing events, I learned that was not the case. In fact I discovered how little I did know. Ms. Fabian and her father, Deacon Lumbert’s book “Why God Matters” reinforced this message and will serve to guide me on my journey to God.
This book reached out and spoke to me in so many ways. I’m not sure I could pick a chapter that didn’t address some part of my life that needed attention. I like the way the chapters tell a very real life story and then show the lesson learned. With Biblical references and quotes from Catechism of the Catholic Church the lessons are driven solidly home. They resonate for cradle Catholics as well as those new to the faith. They encourage us to continue in a life-long pursuit of God and what He can teach us. Like Ms. Fabian says in Chapter 12, entitled My Non-Personal Relationship with God: “I want a relationship with God. I just don’t want it to be “personal.” I want a relationship that encompasses all of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One where he is all-powerful as he is all loving, where he listens to my trivial concerns with benevolence and maybe amusement–yet one where I can rage and share all and come crawling to him when I’m weak and confess my wrongdoings, knowing that no matter how small and wretched I am, he will be there for me, because after all, he is God.”
The book includes fourteen chapters. The chapters are short and to the point and can be easily read in an afternoon, not that I would recommend that. My recommendation is read it through once and then go back and read one chapter a day, or a week or a month. Digest the chapter, figure out how it applies to your life, to your spiritual journey. Embrace the message, make it part of your life. This isn’t rocket science, there may be no bolts of lightning, no burning bushes. Instead just simple life examples that can forever change your life. I truly love the fact, that it is in the simple moments in our lives where we find God. Ms. Fabian and Deacon Lumbert gently and wonderfully remind us of that with their book Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life. I for one am going to start looking and highly recommend this book to any Christian looking to do the same.
Like Ms. Fabian and Deacon Lumbert, I believe St. Vincent De Paul defines this books message best: “The affairs of God are accomplished little by little and almost imperceptibly. The Spirit of God is neither violent nor hasty.”
Check out the website www.whygodmatters.com for more from the authors or have a story to share about your journey.
God Bless,
Christina Weigand
http://www.weigandchris.com
This book reached out and spoke to me in so many ways. I’m not sure I could pick a chapter that didn’t address some part of my life that needed attention. I like the way the chapters tell a very real life story and then show the lesson learned. With Biblical references and quotes from Catechism of the Catholic Church the lessons are driven solidly home. They resonate for cradle Catholics as well as those new to the faith. They encourage us to continue in a life-long pursuit of God and what He can teach us. Like Ms. Fabian says in Chapter 12, entitled My Non-Personal Relationship with God: “I want a relationship with God. I just don’t want it to be “personal.” I want a relationship that encompasses all of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One where he is all-powerful as he is all loving, where he listens to my trivial concerns with benevolence and maybe amusement–yet one where I can rage and share all and come crawling to him when I’m weak and confess my wrongdoings, knowing that no matter how small and wretched I am, he will be there for me, because after all, he is God.”
The book includes fourteen chapters. The chapters are short and to the point and can be easily read in an afternoon, not that I would recommend that. My recommendation is read it through once and then go back and read one chapter a day, or a week or a month. Digest the chapter, figure out how it applies to your life, to your spiritual journey. Embrace the message, make it part of your life. This isn’t rocket science, there may be no bolts of lightning, no burning bushes. Instead just simple life examples that can forever change your life. I truly love the fact, that it is in the simple moments in our lives where we find God. Ms. Fabian and Deacon Lumbert gently and wonderfully remind us of that with their book Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life. I for one am going to start looking and highly recommend this book to any Christian looking to do the same.
Like Ms. Fabian and Deacon Lumbert, I believe St. Vincent De Paul defines this books message best: “The affairs of God are accomplished little by little and almost imperceptibly. The Spirit of God is neither violent nor hasty.”
Check out the website www.whygodmatters.com for more from the authors or have a story to share about your journey.
God Bless,
Christina Weigand
http://www.weigandchris.com
January 4, 2023
This was an amazing little book. The physical book is almost 120 pages. The eBook comes in around 40 pages. But while reading the book, I went back and forth and reread many sections. I probably read the book about 4 times through. I read this as an eBook. The nice thing about it was having it with me all the time, on my iPhone, on my iPad, on my MacBook Pro, on my Desktop or on my Kobo eReader. What made it nice to always have it with me was that often I went back and reread sections a few times over, pondering them, meditating on them and absorbing them before moving on to the next point. The book is written as a series of pensees, reflections or meditations called life lessons. Each chapter is a different Life Lesson, which are alternately written by Karina and Steven, daughter and father. These lessons are:
The Reluctant Convert
Love in a Pot of Rice
So Help Me, God, I Didn't Do It
Martyr for the Trivial
Out of the Depths of Despair
Does God Send Flowers?
The Close Call
Bare Feet
Who, Me?
Small Steps, Steady Progress
Cough Up
My Non-Personal Relationship with God
The Patient Friend
Influence
Each chapter begins with a personal story and then the Life Lesson learned from the experience. Each life lesson is supported with a biblical verse and with a quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This book is a little treasure that I know I will go back and reread again to inspire and encourage me in my faith. It is a great book that was very well written. The book also includes a list of books for further reading and a few prayers at the end of the book to help start us along the path of deeper devotion. So give it a try; it will challenge you in your faith and motivate you to go deeper in your spiritual journey!
...
Read the review and with links to other reviews of books by the authors on my blog Book Reviews and More. And also an author profile and interview with Karina Fabian.
The Reluctant Convert
Love in a Pot of Rice
So Help Me, God, I Didn't Do It
Martyr for the Trivial
Out of the Depths of Despair
Does God Send Flowers?
The Close Call
Bare Feet
Who, Me?
Small Steps, Steady Progress
Cough Up
My Non-Personal Relationship with God
The Patient Friend
Influence
Each chapter begins with a personal story and then the Life Lesson learned from the experience. Each life lesson is supported with a biblical verse and with a quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This book is a little treasure that I know I will go back and reread again to inspire and encourage me in my faith. It is a great book that was very well written. The book also includes a list of books for further reading and a few prayers at the end of the book to help start us along the path of deeper devotion. So give it a try; it will challenge you in your faith and motivate you to go deeper in your spiritual journey!
...
Read the review and with links to other reviews of books by the authors on my blog Book Reviews and More. And also an author profile and interview with Karina Fabian.
June 27, 2010
In this short book, authors Fabian and Lumbert invite readers along on a journey to discover through their experiences how God can be seen in our daily lives. From Deacon Steve's story of being a reluctant convert to Fabian's story of how she stopped being a martyr for the trivial, each chapter brings the reader that much closer to seeing how God impacts our lives, as seen through the eyes of two devoted Catholics.
Books such as these are of interest to me because I'm always searching for that nugget of faith in God that surpasses the theology and catechism to bring us closer to our Heavenly Father. "Why God Matters" is definitely one of those books.
Each story included in this short book displays God's work in our lives. They reach beyond the rules and touch the heart. They discuss what it is like to have a relationship with God that allows us to come to Him in our times of need, knowing He will always be there. While books that discuss the Catholic faith often provide readers with dry theology, they don't allow the average person--especially one not familiar with the Catholic Church--a way to understand God and our relationship with him. "Why God Matters" changes that. It's written by a lay person and a deacon, both devoted to their faith, but in many ways able to express what that type of faith can mean to an individual better than straight theology or dogma.
Every chapter includes quotations, a Life Lesson, and a Bible verse. This helps to make this book a nice devotional. The book has also garnered the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval.
While this book is targeted to a Catholic audience, I feel other denominations will gain something from reading this book as well. I know I certainly enjoyed it, and look forward to more collaborations between Fabian and her father.
Books such as these are of interest to me because I'm always searching for that nugget of faith in God that surpasses the theology and catechism to bring us closer to our Heavenly Father. "Why God Matters" is definitely one of those books.
Each story included in this short book displays God's work in our lives. They reach beyond the rules and touch the heart. They discuss what it is like to have a relationship with God that allows us to come to Him in our times of need, knowing He will always be there. While books that discuss the Catholic faith often provide readers with dry theology, they don't allow the average person--especially one not familiar with the Catholic Church--a way to understand God and our relationship with him. "Why God Matters" changes that. It's written by a lay person and a deacon, both devoted to their faith, but in many ways able to express what that type of faith can mean to an individual better than straight theology or dogma.
Every chapter includes quotations, a Life Lesson, and a Bible verse. This helps to make this book a nice devotional. The book has also garnered the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval.
While this book is targeted to a Catholic audience, I feel other denominations will gain something from reading this book as well. I know I certainly enjoyed it, and look forward to more collaborations between Fabian and her father.
September 27, 2010
God may whap a few of us upside the head with a spiritual two by four, but the vast majority of us will only come to a radical conversion of mind, heart, and spirit through the small, everyday choices we make in classroom, kitchen, or cubicle.
This idea is the major thrust of Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life. This is not a book about figuring out what to believe -- though both authors had to do that at different points in their lives. (Deacon Steven Lumbert is a convert; Karina Fabian is a cradle Catholic who made a full commitment to the Faith as an adult. ) Instead it's about how God led them to a deeper faith through seemingly ordinary incidents in their everyday lives.
Writing alternate chapters, Lumbert and Fabian recount personal stories with elements as disparate as a Puerto Rican chicken and rice dish, a barefoot stranger at Mass, an unexpected flower delivery, an incense-triggered acid reflux attack, and an armed auto thief who couldn't manage to get his gun out of his pocket. Each is followed by a "Life Lesson" meditating on what the author brought away from the experience, how it contributed to his or her relationship with God, and the possible application it might have to the reader's own life. (I could particularly identify with Fabian's chapter about her disorganized approach to housekeeping and how it paralleled her spiritual life. I have so done that deranged drill sergeant thing to my own kids during the rush to clear things up before guests arrive!)
A related scriptural quotation and an extract from the Catholic Catechism rounds off each chapter.
This idea is the major thrust of Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life. This is not a book about figuring out what to believe -- though both authors had to do that at different points in their lives. (Deacon Steven Lumbert is a convert; Karina Fabian is a cradle Catholic who made a full commitment to the Faith as an adult. ) Instead it's about how God led them to a deeper faith through seemingly ordinary incidents in their everyday lives.
Writing alternate chapters, Lumbert and Fabian recount personal stories with elements as disparate as a Puerto Rican chicken and rice dish, a barefoot stranger at Mass, an unexpected flower delivery, an incense-triggered acid reflux attack, and an armed auto thief who couldn't manage to get his gun out of his pocket. Each is followed by a "Life Lesson" meditating on what the author brought away from the experience, how it contributed to his or her relationship with God, and the possible application it might have to the reader's own life. (I could particularly identify with Fabian's chapter about her disorganized approach to housekeeping and how it paralleled her spiritual life. I have so done that deranged drill sergeant thing to my own kids during the rush to clear things up before guests arrive!)
A related scriptural quotation and an extract from the Catholic Catechism rounds off each chapter.
September 13, 2010
You see, I deeply believe that God does work in our lives in little ways that make big differences. You can see how he has done this for others in the book, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Kariana Lumbert Fabian and her father Deacon Steven Lumbert. This has the Seal of Approval from the Catholic Writers Guild. Another lil thing for Dear Hubby and I. You see he is Catholic and I am Baptist, yet we do not have any discourse in our religious beliefs. We come together in all areas of our lives so well. A God thing, I have to say. I love the way this book shares. "God is with us always, sometimes in ways we don't even realize. Deacon Steve Lumbert and his daughter Karina Fabian say. You can share their stories of how God led them from casual belief to deep devotion, and offer tips and exercises to help you see God's hand - and take it." How have you seen God work in your life. Was it a provision that came at just the right moment? A quiet moment that filled you to the brim? The work of others to help when you thought you was at the end of your rope? God is like that. Sometimes quiet, sometimes booming and always fulfilling. You may wish to share this book too to see how to recognize those times.
June 5, 2010
I truly enjoyed this book. There are 14 chapters in total (told back and forth from Karina and Deacon Lumbert). Each chapter is a very quick read that holds a huge lesson: how with love and faith, you can lead and help spread a wealthy, healthy life. I was a bit concerned this book would be preachy like what I see from TV preachers, but this book has taken a different approach. The authors tell personal stories. REAL stories. The kind of stories that we can all relate to and begin using in our own lives.
Some of the stories are really funny, while some break your heart. What connects them all is the author's ability to raise your spirits and show you how faith can bring you peace no matter what experiences you have and will go through. Each chapter ends with a "Life Lesson", which brings the story around in little package and a short scripture.
This book is very approachable and does its job well. You are reading about the authors, you are learning how to apply faith in your life and in the end you feel as if you have gained three friends.
Very Well Done!
Some of the stories are really funny, while some break your heart. What connects them all is the author's ability to raise your spirits and show you how faith can bring you peace no matter what experiences you have and will go through. Each chapter ends with a "Life Lesson", which brings the story around in little package and a short scripture.
This book is very approachable and does its job well. You are reading about the authors, you are learning how to apply faith in your life and in the end you feel as if you have gained three friends.
Very Well Done!
March 29, 2011
To see my review of this book, go to my blog.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews