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Out of the House of Bread: Satisfying Your Hunger for God with the Spiritual Disciplines
Spirituality needs fresh meaning. Even the disciplines of the Spirit have gotten covered with dust and lay unused by Christians. It is time for spirituality to get fresh meaning in our world and with God's people.
In Out of theHouse of Bread author Preston Yancey leads us in a new direction of spirituality through the symbolism and experience of the spiritual disciplines made plain by the baking of bread.
The benefits of this book of devotion
Finding a nearness to the holiness of GodFeeling and experiencing the forgiveness of GodLearning again the disciplines of celebration, confession, and conversionEach chapter pairs a spiritual discipline or practice with a baking discipline. You will encounter ancient practices such as the prayer of examen, lectio divina, intercessory prayer, icons, and stillness.
Yancey shows how, like in Brother Lawrence's kitchen in The Practice of the Presence of God, that when you lift up your hands to God and pray, God will show up right there in the midst of your work and livelihood while you bake.
Out of the House of Bread is a glorious celebration of the sacraments and the seasons of God, meant as reminders and symbols to take us to God in worship. An appendix, about gluten-free and vegan bread and the spirituality involved, will close off the book.
In Out of theHouse of Bread author Preston Yancey leads us in a new direction of spirituality through the symbolism and experience of the spiritual disciplines made plain by the baking of bread.
The benefits of this book of devotion
Finding a nearness to the holiness of GodFeeling and experiencing the forgiveness of GodLearning again the disciplines of celebration, confession, and conversionEach chapter pairs a spiritual discipline or practice with a baking discipline. You will encounter ancient practices such as the prayer of examen, lectio divina, intercessory prayer, icons, and stillness.
Yancey shows how, like in Brother Lawrence's kitchen in The Practice of the Presence of God, that when you lift up your hands to God and pray, God will show up right there in the midst of your work and livelihood while you bake.
Out of the House of Bread is a glorious celebration of the sacraments and the seasons of God, meant as reminders and symbols to take us to God in worship. An appendix, about gluten-free and vegan bread and the spirituality involved, will close off the book.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2016
39 people are currently reading
475 people want to read
About the author
Preston Yancey
6 books54 followersPreston Yancey is a lifelong Texan raised Southern Baptist who fell in love with reading saints, crossing himself, and encountering God in the Eucharist. He now makes his home within the Anglican tradition, but still considers himself a happy-clappy Jesus-lover. He is a writer, baker, speaker, and is in the process of being ordained a priest in the Anglican Church in North America. An alumnus of Baylor University, Preston completed a masters in theology from St. Andrews University in Scotland before returning to the States, currently serving as Canon Theologian for the Anglican Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast. Preston lives in Waco, Texas with his wife, Hilary.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 6, 2016
I fell in love with Preston Yancey’s writing last year when I read his memoir Tables in the Wilderness. He is a beautiful writer, drawing his reader into a conversation full of curiosity and invitation. So when I saw he had written a book on spiritual disciplines I was intrigued. As a Spiritual Director I love introducing people to new ways that they might connect with God, but as the informational blurb states many people are skeptical seeing the disciplines not as an invitation, but as a rule or a burden.
I think Yancey did a masterful job of inviting the reader to see the historical Christian spiritual disciplines from a fresh angle. I loved how he wrote for a variety of different readers, even explaining how a believer comfortable with liturgical practices might see icons in a traditional sense and how a believer who has no familiarity (or level of comfort) with icons can actually find icons that invite them to ponder God as close as the cup in their hand or the bowl in their cupboard.
The pairing of the act of baking bread with the exploration of the spiritual disciplines was another creative way to invite the reader to enter into the process of discovery. These aren’t things to merely be pondered, but things meant to be lived. There is a tactile aspect to our discovery of God in our every day life and each chapter not only gave spiritual exercises, but also baking instructions as another way to move into reflection.
I read through this book at the same time as several of my friends and really enjoyed our discussions on each chapter and the way that it impacted us individually. All in all, I loved the book and recommend it.
I received a free pre-release digital edition of this book in exchange for my honest review, however, I also purchased a hard copy as a welcome edition to my library.
I think Yancey did a masterful job of inviting the reader to see the historical Christian spiritual disciplines from a fresh angle. I loved how he wrote for a variety of different readers, even explaining how a believer comfortable with liturgical practices might see icons in a traditional sense and how a believer who has no familiarity (or level of comfort) with icons can actually find icons that invite them to ponder God as close as the cup in their hand or the bowl in their cupboard.
The pairing of the act of baking bread with the exploration of the spiritual disciplines was another creative way to invite the reader to enter into the process of discovery. These aren’t things to merely be pondered, but things meant to be lived. There is a tactile aspect to our discovery of God in our every day life and each chapter not only gave spiritual exercises, but also baking instructions as another way to move into reflection.
I read through this book at the same time as several of my friends and really enjoyed our discussions on each chapter and the way that it impacted us individually. All in all, I loved the book and recommend it.
I received a free pre-release digital edition of this book in exchange for my honest review, however, I also purchased a hard copy as a welcome edition to my library.
February 5, 2017
The author got me at the 'foreword' intro. "All my favorite stories are, essentially, stories about God or stories about food, and the very best are stories about both."
A good book for me, not always, indicates many post-it tabs sticking out of pages.
I absolutely devoured this book like a bowl of yummy porridge.
Every analogy/connection made to baking process, I enjoyed it. I loved that Preston could find divinity in his passion/hobby.
Some of quotes I marked:
"Too often, prayer is either presented as a wish-making transaction in which an amount of piety is traded for the price of a miracle..."
Intercessory is prayer is not to barter God into doing what we want, it's something much more prayer. It is how we talk with God and ask for help for ourselves and on behalf of others.
Persistence of the woman who seeks justice that is commendable...
I don't think God ever says no when we ask for help, but perhaps God says not this way or not like this.
God wants conversation that's not all supplication and fear and bowing low. He wants anger. mess. all the rough edges of us over and over and over so that the Spirit can rush over them again and again and soothe and smooth and comfort.
Get your body in the thick of prayerful labor. Let prayer get in your bones, in your limbs, the way dough and its feel indents itself against fingers and bowls and teaches you its secrets by its touch.
If you ask yourself to see something new in someone you have known a long time, it might surprise you what you find. The person becomes mysterious in a way, exciting and unexpected.
God is not ashamed of God's creations- our bodies
Give yourself permission this week to go slow, to walk tender, to take in only as much as you are compelled to do. Slow down. Notice. Be Marvel.
end result doesn't have the same kind of beauty of form and substance (to live without Holy spirit)
Too often we don't want to admit there is suffering here and now, and such suffering is not abolished by claiming some abstract hope or attaching Jesus to every situation like he is a Band-Aid. The great physician does not heal with fairy dust or sleight of hand. Instead, he/she comes into the place of the broken, sets limbs and badges eyes, but does not deny the pain of the process, the grief of the loss, the strain of pushing through one more day.
ask the Spirit to reveal to you places in your heart you may have been ignoring or not considering fully. Don't be surprised if what turns up is a bit small, seemingly insignificant. What was hidden for a time, like bread in our oven, emerges well-formed, beautiful in its time, ready for the feast.
Observe a day of silence
When we forget to savor, to taste the goodness of the thing, we pout our effort to shame. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves to go slow, to truly taste, to learn the bittersweet of yeast and the salty burn of crust.
Seek ways to include new faces, voices and perspectives at your tabular brave the step of seeking a place at theirs. In the former, make generous room to allow others to be treated with reverence, in the latter, make generous room in yourself to speak little, listen much, wonder and ask and learn.
Dutch oven is the shiznit!
A good book for me, not always, indicates many post-it tabs sticking out of pages.
I absolutely devoured this book like a bowl of yummy porridge.
Every analogy/connection made to baking process, I enjoyed it. I loved that Preston could find divinity in his passion/hobby.
Some of quotes I marked:
"Too often, prayer is either presented as a wish-making transaction in which an amount of piety is traded for the price of a miracle..."
Intercessory is prayer is not to barter God into doing what we want, it's something much more prayer. It is how we talk with God and ask for help for ourselves and on behalf of others.
Persistence of the woman who seeks justice that is commendable...
I don't think God ever says no when we ask for help, but perhaps God says not this way or not like this.
God wants conversation that's not all supplication and fear and bowing low. He wants anger. mess. all the rough edges of us over and over and over so that the Spirit can rush over them again and again and soothe and smooth and comfort.
Get your body in the thick of prayerful labor. Let prayer get in your bones, in your limbs, the way dough and its feel indents itself against fingers and bowls and teaches you its secrets by its touch.
If you ask yourself to see something new in someone you have known a long time, it might surprise you what you find. The person becomes mysterious in a way, exciting and unexpected.
God is not ashamed of God's creations- our bodies
Give yourself permission this week to go slow, to walk tender, to take in only as much as you are compelled to do. Slow down. Notice. Be Marvel.
end result doesn't have the same kind of beauty of form and substance (to live without Holy spirit)
Too often we don't want to admit there is suffering here and now, and such suffering is not abolished by claiming some abstract hope or attaching Jesus to every situation like he is a Band-Aid. The great physician does not heal with fairy dust or sleight of hand. Instead, he/she comes into the place of the broken, sets limbs and badges eyes, but does not deny the pain of the process, the grief of the loss, the strain of pushing through one more day.
ask the Spirit to reveal to you places in your heart you may have been ignoring or not considering fully. Don't be surprised if what turns up is a bit small, seemingly insignificant. What was hidden for a time, like bread in our oven, emerges well-formed, beautiful in its time, ready for the feast.
Observe a day of silence
When we forget to savor, to taste the goodness of the thing, we pout our effort to shame. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves to go slow, to truly taste, to learn the bittersweet of yeast and the salty burn of crust.
Seek ways to include new faces, voices and perspectives at your tabular brave the step of seeking a place at theirs. In the former, make generous room to allow others to be treated with reverence, in the latter, make generous room in yourself to speak little, listen much, wonder and ask and learn.
Dutch oven is the shiznit!
March 25, 2017
This book worked hand in hand with the Bible Study FINDING I AM that I had finished recently. Completely unexpected, they are very compatible. Regardless, this book is a treasure to behold. Yancey's conversational yet instructional tones pack a punch of wisdom to savor and to return to again and again. Most importantly, he reminds us that we are not in this journey alone, and we are to mimic Jesus: our table should be filled with unexpected guests and we should always be looking for ways to honor others and bring them back with us. In the midst, there is the Good Shepherd, always with us, delighting in us.
June 15, 2016
This review was updated and published here: https://thebreadmaiden.com/2016/06/15...
I thought this book was okay. It was hard to figure out what kind of book it was trying to be. Is it a faith memoir, a la Glennon Melton, Sarah Bessey and Rachel Held Evans? Was it about the meaning of bread? Was it about faith and baking? Is it about following the disciplines? is it a devotional? Am I supposed to learn anything about the bread recipe or process besides just baking it over and over? He spends too much time talking about walking on the path he took into town when he lived in Scotland. Where his writing really shines is in the Feasting chapter when he talks about the death of his grandfather and baking a pie that he then shares with his father. The chapter is so restrained and yet it conveys so much. I wish there were more vignettes like that. The structure reminded me of Rachel Held Evans's new book, but she really expanded and pushed the idea of the various sacraments that framed her narrative. It seemed like Yancey's spiritual disciplines framework didn't really work as well as it could have, or maybe he was forcing it too much. I cringed a bit when he likened the dutch oven to a tomb in the baking and fasting chapter. I hesitate to say this but I wish he had waited a year and published this book, to see what he might add. It seems like he chose not to share his really deep life experiences in this book, where they would have strengthened it. Like Rachel, Preston has written two memoirs so maybe I can anticipate another one.
I thought this book was okay. It was hard to figure out what kind of book it was trying to be. Is it a faith memoir, a la Glennon Melton, Sarah Bessey and Rachel Held Evans? Was it about the meaning of bread? Was it about faith and baking? Is it about following the disciplines? is it a devotional? Am I supposed to learn anything about the bread recipe or process besides just baking it over and over? He spends too much time talking about walking on the path he took into town when he lived in Scotland. Where his writing really shines is in the Feasting chapter when he talks about the death of his grandfather and baking a pie that he then shares with his father. The chapter is so restrained and yet it conveys so much. I wish there were more vignettes like that. The structure reminded me of Rachel Held Evans's new book, but she really expanded and pushed the idea of the various sacraments that framed her narrative. It seemed like Yancey's spiritual disciplines framework didn't really work as well as it could have, or maybe he was forcing it too much. I cringed a bit when he likened the dutch oven to a tomb in the baking and fasting chapter. I hesitate to say this but I wish he had waited a year and published this book, to see what he might add. It seems like he chose not to share his really deep life experiences in this book, where they would have strengthened it. Like Rachel, Preston has written two memoirs so maybe I can anticipate another one.
February 22, 2016
Full disclosure: I received a free e-galley through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Mr. Yancey’s book includes devotions based on spiritual disciplines to deepen our relationship with the Creator. Along with this, he includes the ritual of making bread on a weekly basis to coincide with the disciplines. An excellent appendix follows the text that includes alternative recipes and suggested reading. One of my favorite quotes from the book is:
“Spiritual disciplines are kinds of prayer, and when you find yourself in the middle of a season where nothing spiritual seems to matter and nothing feels like it’s working, having something new to try, a different perspective, a new way of telling God you’re in need or you’re lonely or you’re just fed up can feel like a lifeline. It can be a lifeline.”
Recommended for public libraries and academic libraries with Christianity collections.
Mr. Yancey’s book includes devotions based on spiritual disciplines to deepen our relationship with the Creator. Along with this, he includes the ritual of making bread on a weekly basis to coincide with the disciplines. An excellent appendix follows the text that includes alternative recipes and suggested reading. One of my favorite quotes from the book is:
“Spiritual disciplines are kinds of prayer, and when you find yourself in the middle of a season where nothing spiritual seems to matter and nothing feels like it’s working, having something new to try, a different perspective, a new way of telling God you’re in need or you’re lonely or you’re just fed up can feel like a lifeline. It can be a lifeline.”
Recommended for public libraries and academic libraries with Christianity collections.
July 18, 2016
Breath Taken
I love everything about this book. The Holy walk, the lovely recipes, the wonderful insights, the revelations are astounding. You can be a new Comer, an old traveler or a lost soul trying to find you way, this book will help you, delight you, inspire you to journey on. Take the walk...read this book. GOD Bless
I love everything about this book. The Holy walk, the lovely recipes, the wonderful insights, the revelations are astounding. You can be a new Comer, an old traveler or a lost soul trying to find you way, this book will help you, delight you, inspire you to journey on. Take the walk...read this book. GOD Bless
September 18, 2016
This is one of those books that I will come back to over and over again as I think about prayer and fasting, silence and celebration . . . and when I want to make really awesome bread again. Beautiful, powerful, profound
April 19, 2016
This is a book I will read again, slowly to try some of the suggestions for spiritual disciplines. I may even make bread following his recipe.The king needs of thoughtful writing i enjoy
January 29, 2017
I can't wait to go through this book again. Lovely book on bread making and spiritual disciplines.
October 16, 2017
Baking Bread
Baking breAd and the spiritual journey may be close enough for a metaphor but in my opinion too much for an entire book. It was a struggle to finish.
Baking breAd and the spiritual journey may be close enough for a metaphor but in my opinion too much for an entire book. It was a struggle to finish.
September 19, 2019
I think this is the book I would give someone if they wanted to know what Ike like spiritually right now.
January 8, 2023
While I didn't agree with everything theologically in this book, the overarching principles were good and definitely something I will take with me in the future.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews