Elephant Wisdom - A Review

Elephant Wisdom

by

M. Gail Grant

A Review

Remembrance of Him

  

 You are never alone,

 even in the absence of another soul.

 When stillness fills the air,

 and the deafening sounds of despair sing,

 remember inside of you,

 lives the Holy King.

As I learn to re-appreciate poetry, something four years of high school and five years of college stole from my soul fifty years ago, I have stumbled on another collection of free verse that has touched my heart.

Many of these pieces remind me that there is pain in loss - whether it be for a short while or for longer periods of time. The pain is real, but at the same time we are reminded that when one has left, they have also returned home.

If the reader is looking for a rhythm or a rhyme, these poems will (mostly) not provide those elements. But if the reader is looking for pieces that will touch the heart and help them find feelings they may have lost. this collection of poetry will do that. They will take the reader through their pain to the throne of God while preparing the reader for another day. For this, I give this 150-page book five stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the author for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

 

Tell Me No Secrets - A Review

Tell Me No Secrets

by

Lynn Chandler Willis

A well-written mystery taking place in the Blue Ridge Mountains and along the Appalachian Trail in northern North Carolina and southern Virginia near the highest mountain peak in Virginia (Mt. Rogers which stands 5,728 feet above ground level). The scenery is beautiful (and inviting a visit, in better days), standing in dark contrast to the gruesome murder of Scott Curry.

The young gay man’s body was found at the most inappropriate time - as Ava Logan’s 12-year-old daughter was about to be baptized in the muddy waters of Jackson Creek. The discovery would put an end to the day’s celebration and force Ava Logan, publisher of the Jackson Creek Chronicle and Scott Curry’s employer, and her boyfriend, Jackson County Sheriff Grayson Ridge, to follow the clues to find more about the victim and the murderer.

The story moves along quickly including a couple of brief visits to Mary McCarter, one of several women in the area who were said to have “the gift”. We also get to visit the “Higher Heavens Holiness Church”, located along the slopes of Mt. Rogers, along with a glimpse at its Sunday morning snake-handling service.

The author crafts a believable story, though its exploration of faith will leave some disappointed. It is clear that the author is convinced that faith can be expressed in a variety of ways, though there is no clear role model for the evangelical or, even, a mainline protestant believer. Though the book explores the nature of faith, the author makes no clear statement as to the nature of that faith. Though that was not the intent of the book, it was disappointing to this reader.

For the reader looking for a good summer read this book may fill the bill. A bit beyond the average cozy mystery, but still worth the time I took to read it.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Divine Science - A Review

Divine Science:

Finding Reason at the Heart of Faith

by

Michael Dennin

A Review

Rarely, if ever, have I run across an author that accepts scripture and science at face value, as equal partners in discovering truth. The author has no problem in stating that he sees himself as a “cradle Catholic”; more importantly, at least to this reader, his faith in the Grace of God is his own. At the same time, the author makes it clear that as a tenured member of the University of California-Irvine Department of Physics, he is a scientist.  He takes his faith seriously; he takes science seriously.

Too often, these kind of statements are made so that the speaker can join the discussion, though the statements are made lightly. But as the reader makes his way through this book, it becomes clear that Dr. Dennin attempts to make both of these foci key parts of his decision making. Though I do not agree with all of his conclusions, I do appreciate his attempts to weave his faith together with his science to make a single coherent world view. Something most writers find hard to do.

Using a combination of Scripture, Theology, Philosophy, and Science, the author seeks to discover the “fullness of reality” as God intended it to be seen – giving a fuller view than would be possible if we relied on one or the other alone. 

I do appreciate the work that Michael Deninn is attempting to do. I remember the job interview I had at a Midwest Christian College. I was told up front that I would be fired if I in any way supported creation (note, my field was Computer Science). The author does not support a seven-day creation approach, but, at the same time, he has no problem acknowledging God’s presence and work in the creation event. Early in the book, he quotes an undergraduate faculty member addressing the Creation story:

That story may be factually false, but it is a myth. And a myth can convey truths that are more important, more salient, and more applicable than any fact that you might encounter. That story is better than factual, it is truthful.

The author accepts scripture at face value, recognizing that it represents different authors, with differing backgrounds, and written using different genres. Each of these truths serves as the foundation for good exegesis – and means that he takes not only his faith seriously, but also the scriptures.

The reader may not accept all of the conclusions that come from the author (as I said earlier, this reader does not), but the author and this book do deserve a careful reading by both the theologian and the believing scientist. 

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In the interest of openness, I should point out that this review is written by an ordained Protestant pastor who spent 24 years in the college classroom teaching Computer Science.  The review is based on a free electronic copy of this book provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are mine alone.

War Room - A Review

War Room:

Prayer Is A Powerful Weapon

by

Chris Fabry

A Review

See the movie; read the book.

Read the book; see the movie.

I was privileged to see the movie upon which this book was based about four or five months before the movie will released to the general public. I was impressed. A layman, who accompanied me to the theater, said it was the best Christian movie he had seen. He might be right.

This past month, I was privileged to have the chance to read the book which was based on that movie – at about the same time as the movie was being released. I was not disappointed.

The movie presents a MACRO view of the power of prayer – we see the big picture of prayer in the 120 minute film. Details are there, the focus for many will be the impact that prayer has on the people and families presented in the film. On the other hand, the book presents a MICRO view of the power of prayer – the reader is able to see details, hear lessons, and feel the power of prayer. The book presents, not just a story, but over 400 pages, a set of insights that any believer will want to discover about his or her own prayer life.

Clara Williams would impact many people – families would be changed, people would renew their faith, and a community would be improved. In the movie we see it happen – and stand back, awestruck, as God accomplishes his work. But we also see it happen in the book; but there we see it happen step by step by step – and we have the opportunity to grow as the books characters grow. We learn, see, and understand the lessons that are taught by Clara to the people in her life.

As I said earlier:

See the movie; read the book.

Read the book; see the movie.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Believe: Living the Story of the Bible to Become Like Jesus - A Review

Believe:

Living the Story of the Bible to Become Like Jesus

edited by

Randy Frazee

A Review

Believe is the third book I would recommend to the individual wanting to study theology without being spoon fed by an author.  The older of these is nearly (sadly) out of print, Gordon R. Lewis’ Decide For Yourself.  The second book was published more recently, Darryl Aaron’s Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes A Day.  Randy Frazee has now published a similar book that allows the reader to do theology for herself or himself.

The book, as a whole, is divided into three sections.  The first covers the topics most commonly found in a systematic theology text.  The second examines what might be termed “practical theology” - answering questions about how our beliefs influence how we live.  The third section, using the Fruit of the Spirit as a guide, focuses on how faith effects who we are, i.e. a “heart theology”.  

The three sections are further divided into chapters discussing major topics.  The chapters are divided into sub-topics, each beginning with a brief one paragraph discussion of the questions being addressed.  My only complaint with the entire book is that these sub-topics are only delineated by the use italics - no bold print, no dark lines, no icons separate the end of one sub-topic and the beginning of another except that the following paragraph is in italics.  

This paragraph is followed, not by lists of scriptures as found in the earlier books, but by the scriptures (using the NIV) themselves.  Scriptures may be a single verse (rarely), a pericope, or a chapter or two related to the current topic.  Because the scriptures are quoted, the current book is substantially longer than the earlier volumes, though the information detail remains about the same.

The current book is recommended for the lay Christian seeking to understand why and what they believe.  In the local church, it could easily serve as the basis for a year long Sunday School or Bible Study discussing similar topics.  The two more practical sections of Believe would make it a welcome addition to this audience.  It may also have a place in a Bible College or Seminary course where denominational indoctrination is of less importance than personal spiritual growth.  I would also recommend this book for the pastor or established Christian looking for a fresh way to explore one’s faith and its application to life.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

It Is Well With My Soul - A Review

It Is Well With My Soul

by

Shelly Beach

A Review

One of my favorite self-help books was written by M. Scott Peck.  I know that not all of my readers will agree with all that he has written - I don’t either.  But the first words I read by him still ring true, “Life is difficult.”  

Though Shelly Beach may not quote M. Scott Peck, her thesis is that what he wrote was true.  Using the difficult life she has experienced and the lives of others, she has written a devotional that focuses on the lessons that can be learned from the pain can come from life - whether it be health issues, family problems, or aging itself.  No one is removed from the pains of life - but we have the choice as to whether they will draw us closer to God or allow us to run from him.  A choice we each have to make.

As a spiritual leader for a small group of seniors, I am becoming increasingly aware of how people can be empowered or frightened by an unknown future.  It is my pleasure to walk with them as they seek to find their way in God’s world.  This book will help me and my friends in that journey.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Walking On Water

The pond is just about frozen (finally) - but it still looks like water. The ice would never support a fisherman, but you can still see ripples in the ice where the water froze before it could settle to a crystal smooth finish.

Given the rather longish fall weather, I think the thin ice also confused the migrating geese. Yesterday as I left campus I found three or four geese wandering around the frozen ice - all looking rather confused. They did not seem to understand why they were walking on the water rather than wading in it. It was a rather funny sight.

I wonder what it would have been like to see Jesus that night walking on the water. Or, better yet. to see Peter climb out of the boat and do the same, if even for a moment or two. I expect everyone, but Jesus, would have been confused. It too would have been a strange sight.

As I prepare to leave the safety of the boat for new waters, I am reminded that Jesus is there to catch me. It may feel confusing, it may feel frightening, it may feel uncertain. But like Peter, I can call out, "Jesus save me." I must never forget that Jesus is there to pull me in when I feel most alone.

Pastor Patrick