Reviewed by Pat Martin
This book is about a federal agent who claims that he can blend in with those around him and go unnoticed. He becomes implicated in a murder case where his mother, father and pastor are involved. It is primarily a mystery thriller with spiritual overtones. Quite engrossing.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
The Yada Yada Prayer Group by Neta Jackson
Reviewed by Sharon VanderPol and Arlene Martin
When Jodi Baxter attends a weekend Christian women's conference near her home in Chicago, she is randomly placed in a prayer group with several other women. Their first meeting is stiff and unorganized and it is apparent that the women have little in common. That is, until one of them experiences a seriously critical incident. Deepest concern and help is poured out toward the family, and the prayer group decides to at least keep in touch by email. Before long, their lives are intertwined by many events that draw them closer to one another and to God.
The Yada Yada Prayer Group was an easy read. I felt myself identifying with the situations, some of them pretty funny, and growing fond of the women as if I had made some new friends. It was enlightening, too, watching the various ways these women worshipped.
On the down side, I felt that minor incidents were treated with undue attention, whereas real life crises were trivialized by being articifially solved. For example, Jodi goes ballistic when her husband brings beer into the house, but the tragedy that she creates late in the book is dismissed in court. Also, there are some loose ends to some of the ladies' situations which, of course, begs a sequel. Indeed, there are seven Yada Yada books that follow.
Great for summer realistic fiction reading!
When Jodi Baxter attends a weekend Christian women's conference near her home in Chicago, she is randomly placed in a prayer group with several other women. Their first meeting is stiff and unorganized and it is apparent that the women have little in common. That is, until one of them experiences a seriously critical incident. Deepest concern and help is poured out toward the family, and the prayer group decides to at least keep in touch by email. Before long, their lives are intertwined by many events that draw them closer to one another and to God.
The Yada Yada Prayer Group was an easy read. I felt myself identifying with the situations, some of them pretty funny, and growing fond of the women as if I had made some new friends. It was enlightening, too, watching the various ways these women worshipped.
On the down side, I felt that minor incidents were treated with undue attention, whereas real life crises were trivialized by being articifially solved. For example, Jodi goes ballistic when her husband brings beer into the house, but the tragedy that she creates late in the book is dismissed in court. Also, there are some loose ends to some of the ladies' situations which, of course, begs a sequel. Indeed, there are seven Yada Yada books that follow.
Great for summer realistic fiction reading!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris
Reviewed by Adie Johnson
Kathleen Norris' now classic non-fiction book, The Cloister Walk, gives to its readers a rare opportunity – to peer inside the cloistered walls of modern, monastic life. Norris, "raised a thorough Prostestant", finds herself living among the Benedectine monks of St. John's Abbey in Minnesota for two extended stays, and is caught by the beauty, power and presence of God in their midst. Her interaction with Scripture, monastic life, liturgy and modern world are poetically captured through her short chapters echoing the rhythm of the abbey. She speaks of Biblical authors as companions with whom they travel through the books of the Bible daily - Isaiah joining her one Christmas and Jeremiah shouting at her in the morning. Perhaps one of my most favorite excerpts from the book has to do with her insight into the challenges and blessings of monastic community:
"One monk, when asked about the diversity in his small community, said that there were people who can meditate all day and others who can't sit still for five minutes; monks who are scholars and those who are semiliterate; chatterboxes and those who emulate Calvin Coolidge with regard to speech. "But," he said, "our biggest problem is that each man here had a mother who fried potatoes in a different way." Differences between individuals will either be absorbed when the community gathers to act as one, or these communal activities become battlegrounds. As one monk, a liturgist, once said to me, "Go to the dining room and to prayers, and you'll find out how a monastery is doing." p. 22
Cloister Walk introduced me to some of great authors of our faith as Norris would weave into the story quotes from John Chrysostom, Hildegard of Bingen, Saint Benedict and more. As Protestants, we have inadvertently cut ourselves off from the wealth of depth and richness of our ancient faith. Cloister Walk is an invitation not to deny who we are, but to reacquaint ourselves with our past while remaining planted soundly in the present.
Kathleen Norris' now classic non-fiction book, The Cloister Walk, gives to its readers a rare opportunity – to peer inside the cloistered walls of modern, monastic life. Norris, "raised a thorough Prostestant", finds herself living among the Benedectine monks of St. John's Abbey in Minnesota for two extended stays, and is caught by the beauty, power and presence of God in their midst. Her interaction with Scripture, monastic life, liturgy and modern world are poetically captured through her short chapters echoing the rhythm of the abbey. She speaks of Biblical authors as companions with whom they travel through the books of the Bible daily - Isaiah joining her one Christmas and Jeremiah shouting at her in the morning. Perhaps one of my most favorite excerpts from the book has to do with her insight into the challenges and blessings of monastic community:
"One monk, when asked about the diversity in his small community, said that there were people who can meditate all day and others who can't sit still for five minutes; monks who are scholars and those who are semiliterate; chatterboxes and those who emulate Calvin Coolidge with regard to speech. "But," he said, "our biggest problem is that each man here had a mother who fried potatoes in a different way." Differences between individuals will either be absorbed when the community gathers to act as one, or these communal activities become battlegrounds. As one monk, a liturgist, once said to me, "Go to the dining room and to prayers, and you'll find out how a monastery is doing." p. 22
Cloister Walk introduced me to some of great authors of our faith as Norris would weave into the story quotes from John Chrysostom, Hildegard of Bingen, Saint Benedict and more. As Protestants, we have inadvertently cut ourselves off from the wealth of depth and richness of our ancient faith. Cloister Walk is an invitation not to deny who we are, but to reacquaint ourselves with our past while remaining planted soundly in the present.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
The Shack by William P. Young
Reviewed by Marty Huisjen
A father experiences a terrible family tragedy that affects his faith in God as well as his relationships with his wife and children. Years later he receives a mysterious message, apparently from God, asking him to return to the scene of the tragedy. There he literally meets God in the three persons of the Trinity in a weekend encounter. Through the encounter, he learns to look differently at the question of why God allows suffering.
This book might appeal to people who are struggling with the issue of suffering in our world and why a good God would allow such suffering to occur. It also might appeal to people who have been burned by previous experiences with Christianity but are nonetheless looking for a relationship with God.
The Shack is a short and easy read. The beginning has a lot of sadness in it. It gets quite New Agey in its description of God in the persons of the Trinity, and it should be read with some discernment. There is some “all paths lead to God” theology. On the other hand, it gave me new perspectives on the issue of suffering and on the Trinity.
A father experiences a terrible family tragedy that affects his faith in God as well as his relationships with his wife and children. Years later he receives a mysterious message, apparently from God, asking him to return to the scene of the tragedy. There he literally meets God in the three persons of the Trinity in a weekend encounter. Through the encounter, he learns to look differently at the question of why God allows suffering.
This book might appeal to people who are struggling with the issue of suffering in our world and why a good God would allow such suffering to occur. It also might appeal to people who have been burned by previous experiences with Christianity but are nonetheless looking for a relationship with God.
The Shack is a short and easy read. The beginning has a lot of sadness in it. It gets quite New Agey in its description of God in the persons of the Trinity, and it should be read with some discernment. There is some “all paths lead to God” theology. On the other hand, it gave me new perspectives on the issue of suffering and on the Trinity.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Blue Like Jazz: Non-Religious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller
Reviewed by Pat Jaeger
I love this book. It is a real look at spirituality and addresses the same kinds of questions that I ask--not the same questions that have been asked and answered in the same way over and over. These are the kind that you (me) are too embarrassed to ask in public. The humor and real approach to Christianity makes this a must read for all of us real people with a sense of humor.
I love this book. It is a real look at spirituality and addresses the same kinds of questions that I ask--not the same questions that have been asked and answered in the same way over and over. These are the kind that you (me) are too embarrassed to ask in public. The humor and real approach to Christianity makes this a must read for all of us real people with a sense of humor.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The Preacher's Daughter by Beverly Lewis
Reviewed by Arlene Martin
Beverly Lewis writes in many genres, including adult books, children's books and videos. In The Preacher's Daughter, she uses her extensive knowledge of the Amish people to tell the tale of two twenty-ish girls and their romances. One of the girls comes from a well-to-do family in Colorado. When she ends her engagement and runs away, she goes to the home of an Amish family. The insights into the differences in cultures is interesting, but somewhat simplified. This book will appeal to teenage girls and women. I would recommend becoming acquainted with this popular author. We have many of her books in our church library.
Beverly Lewis writes in many genres, including adult books, children's books and videos. In The Preacher's Daughter, she uses her extensive knowledge of the Amish people to tell the tale of two twenty-ish girls and their romances. One of the girls comes from a well-to-do family in Colorado. When she ends her engagement and runs away, she goes to the home of an Amish family. The insights into the differences in cultures is interesting, but somewhat simplified. This book will appeal to teenage girls and women. I would recommend becoming acquainted with this popular author. We have many of her books in our church library.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Monday Night Jihad by Jason Elam
Reviewed by Pat Martin
This is not an overtly Christian book, but it is a good thriller where the main character does struggle with questions about his actions in light of his strong Christian beliefs. It's about a football player who is also a retired special forces-type soldier. He reverts to his previous career as a soldier to respond to a terrorist attack that occurs during a football game in Denver. I was surprised with how well the book was written given that the author was a Denver Broncos football player. If you like action thrillers, you will enjoy this book.
This is not an overtly Christian book, but it is a good thriller where the main character does struggle with questions about his actions in light of his strong Christian beliefs. It's about a football player who is also a retired special forces-type soldier. He reverts to his previous career as a soldier to respond to a terrorist attack that occurs during a football game in Denver. I was surprised with how well the book was written given that the author was a Denver Broncos football player. If you like action thrillers, you will enjoy this book.
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