Taking Jesus literally

Home ยป Jesus Freak: Feeding Healing Raising the Dead

Sacramento Book Revi @ 2010-04-06

Jesus Freak: Feeding Healing Raising the Dead

$21.95
"What does it mean to be a Jesus freak?" asks former atheist Sara Miles, author of //Jesus freak: feeding, healing, raising the dead//. Her answer takes the form of a collection of personal experiences, reflections, and observations based on her work as founder and director of The Food Pantry at St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco. In an earlier book (//Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion//), Miles told the story of her surprising mid-life conversion and subsequent passion to feed the poor and hungry by converting St. Gregory's sanctuary into a free farmer's market every Friday.

Miles takes Jesus's teachings literally. In four chapters at the heart of her new book, she maintains that regular people can do the work of Jesus--feeding, healing, forgiving, and raising the dead. The chapter on healing is especially insightful as she describes the struggle she and other "healers" have in trying to fix those who will not be healed. Not everyone will agree with Miles's interpretation of Jesus's teachings, or her frequent reference to him as "the Boyfriend." However, most will find compelling points to ponder about their own response to the marginalized of our society.

Reviewed by Diana Irvine