Come to the Family Table: Slowing Down to Enjoy Food, Each Other, and Jesus

by Ted Cunningham, Amy Cunningham

In our busy world, family time around the dinner table is easily displaced by other things. Ted and Amy Cunningham call parents to a slower way of living that allows them to intentionally build into their family's relational and spiritual fabric and into the community around them.

No more rushing to the table for a quick bite so we can get back to our other activities. Prioritizing mealtime slows us down long enough to enjoy our food, each other, and Jesus. Inspired by the slow food movement, Come to the Family Table seeks to encourage families with intentional strategies to engage one another and create the table as a space for practical ministry to their community.

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2016

About the author

Ted Cunningham is the founding pastor of Woodland Hills Family Church in Branson, MO. He is a comedian on the Date Night Comedy Tour and the author of Fun Loving You, Trophy Child and Young and In Love. He is also the co-author of Come to the Family Table with his wife, Amy, and the co-author of four books with Dr. Gary Smalley. Ted and Amy have been married for 20 years, and have two children, Corynn and Carson.

Reviews

[Kelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it boring. I couldn't stick with it sadly. I read the first three chapters and skimmed some till the end, It's just a topic I have heard and read other books on. It's a good concept but I don't think there was enough there to write a whole book on and make it memorable. I did however, enjoy some of the subject matter. I believe family meals are incredibly important. I felt the premise of making the food together, eating it together, and cleaning up together exhausting and would better love just the concept of sitting down with family and talking. They call it eating "slow food" instead of rushing to eat and not enjoying each others company. Like I said, I do love the concepts in this book but felt there wasn't enough meat in what was written.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come to the Family Table by Ted and Amy Cunningham is a book that encourages people to use the meal table as a tool to nurture meaningful relationships. This idea appealed to me immediately because, as a husband father of eight children, I understand the unique opportunity that the family table offers for this very thing. The basic premise behind Come to the Family Table is that the meal time ritual (making the food together, setting the table, savoring the taste of the food and wine, and even cleaning up) presents an opportunity to take time out of our routine to enjoy the presence of those whom we love.

The book is divided into two parts. Part one focuses on familial relationships while part two encourages the reader to reach out to others and practice hospitality, Each chapter includes selections from both Amy and Ted as they share their journey enjoying "slow food". This is followed by a recipe that you can use if you don't already have a good selection, a game that can be played around the table and which the authors designed to foster meaningful conversation, and a short devotional which can be used to bond these relationships together in Christ.

One of the things that I really appreciate about Come to the Family Table is the way the Cunninghams understand that the table is a place where we gather to receive God's good gifts. In fact, the subtitle of chapter three says just that, "The Family Table is where we receive food and wine as good gifts from our Lord".This understanding of God as a gift-giving God, and of the table as the central place in daily life where we receive, enjoy, and share these good gifts are central to understanding the the book as a whole.

The Cunninghams don't see the table merely as a place where a biological family gathers. Rather, they expand the utility and comfort of the table to be a place where old friends gather and where new friends are made. I really appreciated the warm stories of hospitality that were woven through part two. Ted and Amy shared many scenarios in which they learned hospitality from those who have mastered the art of making others feel welcomed in their homes.

If you are love people, enjoy good food, and desire to enrich the relationships in your hope you will want to get a hold of this book. The Cunninghams offer a wealth of wise experience gained on their own journey and generously share these relationship building lessons with us as we engage on a journey of good food, enriching friendships, and God-honoring conversations. On a personal note, I can't wait to implement some of these ideas in our own home as we learn to give thanks to the Father of lights from whom all good and perfect gifts come.

link: Click here to purchase Come to the Family Table on Amazon.

This review first appeared on my book review blog at http://www.teleiaphilia.com

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress/Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an online review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Paige Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a great reminder of all the blessings that come from slowing down, choosing to focus on the things and people that are really important, and centering your family life around the connection and conversation that happens best at a family dinner. The Cunningham's did a great job including personal stories and adding a recipe, game idea and devotional to each chapter. If you know you need to slow down and recenter your hectic life but aren't sure how to begin, reading this book would be a great first step. Definitely recommend!

Favorite Quote: "Speed is the enemy of intimacy."

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

An encouraging and useful read with some great ideas for how to make family mealtimes more enjoyable and significant. Not everything applies to all families but you may benefit from reading this, and your kids may thank you, especially if your mealtimes tend to be times of conflict, tension or boring. Remember though that every family is different and don't be discouraged if your family doesn't seem to "measure up" to the fun family the book is about. I had to filter this to what applies to our home and I'm sure you will need to do that too!

[Courtney Shevchenko · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about how the Cunninghams cultivated hospitality in their lives. I don't see myself reading it again however; it's a quick, one-time read.

[Monica H (TeaandBooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do your family meals feel rushed and stale? Do you have a fear of cooking for guests at your house? Come to the Family Table by Ted and Amy Cunningham, inspired by the slow food movement, offers ideas for providing your family with mealtimes that they will long remember for creating special memories. It also offers encouragement and advice to offer guests friendly hospitality that doesn't have to be perfect to be fun for all.

Come to the Family Table is divided into two sections: The Family Table Is For Us and The Family Table is For Others. Each of the five chapters within these two sections offers advice on how to enhance your mealtimes with the people you are with, a Cunningham family recipe, an idea for a relational game you can play, and a Christian devotional/prayer to go with the meal.

I enjoyed Come to the Family Table so much that I could have read it in one sitting if my schedule had allowed for the luxury. I found the writing to be easy to read and relate to. Recently an old school friend of mine came back to the area for a visit and we had a delicious meal out at our favorite restaurant. It gave me a taste of how much I enjoy those precious times eating together and reminded me of how much I want to do more of that. Come to the Family Table shares so many good ideas on how to do hospitality and how to share meals anywhere, ideas for good conversation and other entertaining ideas that all sound so easy to implement. I think sometimes I just make it too hard in my head and the ideas in this book could help me get past that if I will just implement them. It is naturally easier for me to make special meals for my family but this book also gave me some good ideas to open up new conversations with them, as well as to share and support each other to have the best overall family experience we can have as we do life together. In addition, the 10 recipes that are included sound good. A few of the recipes that are offered include: Blueberry-Lemon Muffins, Jill's Chicken Soup, and Sarah's One-Pot Pumpkin Salsa Soup. I highly recommend this book to every one.

I received Come To the Family Table from the publisher, NavPress/Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review.

[Tima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family meals aren't just sitting at the table with family members eating a meal. It's about connecting, learning, enjoying, and sharing. The authors have divided the book up in to two parts. The first part is all about the family. Weaving faith throughout each topic, the authors talk about bonding with your family over a shared meal, enhancing and encouraging good memories, and connecting to bring the family closer to each other and God. The second part is about bringing others to the family table and how to make them feel not only included, but to share with them the beautiful blessing of Jesus.

This was a rich, fulfilling, and heartwarming book to read. I was encouraged and inspired. The personal stories and testimonies added to the warmth in the writing style. There are recipes, helpful suggestions, and prayers with almost every chapter. I enjoyed the uplifting, faith filled approach and look forward to implementing a few things I learned in the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to enrich their family meal times with a faith based book.

I received this book free of charge from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come to the Family Table by Ted and Amy Cunningham introduced me to the idea that I could actually be serving my family and my community by approaching the family table as a service opportunity.

We all have to eat. And we all need those moments to stop and rest. Rest is the thing that keeps us moving forward without being overwhelmed. It's the space for margin and the reminder that there is room in your day to breathe.

See more of my review at: http://betheproof.org/legacyliving/fa...

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

[Kimberly Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I would love this book... I liked it, but it wasn't life-changing.

Ted and Amy's book "Fun Loving You" was AMAZING. It was full of ideas on how to love your spouse, how to date them, and how to enjoy each other. It seemed like it stemmed from all their years being married, trying things, working them out, etc. until they had a well thought-out resource for couples.

"Come to the Family Table", on the other hand, felt like their family had realized they needed a change, and had pulled ideas from a bunch of other sources, tried them out for a couple months, and then decided to write a book. Maybe it's just because there are so many other books out there right now about slowing down, enjoying real food together as a family, inviting others in, making your home a place of peace and refuge... this one just wasn't my favorite.

However, there were still some good ideas, both for your family and for serving others. Especially if your gifts aren't hospitality, giving or serving, I would recommend this. If those are your gifts, this might be a good reminder for you, but you're probably already doing most of this in your home.
Also, much of it is for families with older children who can take part in actual conversation... not for families with toddlers. ;)

[LaDonna Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the ideas presented. I can see us applying many to our family life and friends.