Book Reviews for our Church Members

This is a book review by Anitra Kitts, a member of Rose City Park Presbyterian Church in Portland, Ore., and a candidate for ministry under the care of the Presbytery of the Cascades. It can be found on the Presbyterian web page athttp://www.pcusa.org/today/media/bookreviews.htm. The name of the book is "Fasting: Spiritual Freedom Beyond Our Appetites", by Lynne M. Baab (InterVarsity Press, 2006; 144 pages; $13, paperback). Fasting, an ancient spiritual discipline, is being reclaimed within Protestant circles as an aid to discernment, clarification of values and renewal of prayer. Lynne Baab, a Presbyterian minister and author of five previous books, including the 2005 book Sabbath Keeping, introduces the discipline of fasting to American Christians who may be hearing calls for fasting for the first time. Intensely aware of the dangers that fasting presents to those who suffer from eating disorders, Baab expands the practice to include abstaining, for a limited period of time, from any activity that distracts the disciple from experiencing God’s presence. “Fasting, at its core, is not a discipline of withholding. Fasting is a discipline of making space for God,” she writes. Many within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have called for a time of prayer and fasting as a way to help the whole church discern where Christ is calling us into new life. Baab sets that call within a Biblical, denominational and historical context, including the recent reemergence of the practice due to the leadership of the late Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, among others. For those unfamiliar with the practice, Fasting offers a context as well as guidelines for appropriate and healthy application. Each chapter closes with suggested questions for discussion, contemplation. This seem to be good book for individual growth or group study. Peace, love and joy in our Lord Jesus Christ.

We recently finished "The Handwriting on the Wall" by David Jeremiah; Thomas Nelson Publisher, ISBN: 978-0-8499-3365-3, 250 pages. We purchased our copy from DavidJeremiah.org with the study guide and CDs, however the book alone is available at internet sites, like Amazon.com, for around ten dollars. This is David's study of the Old Testament book of Daniel and it's prophecies. The book reads very easily and has large print. We've studied the book of Daniel for perhaps thirty-five years and we never before have had the level of understanding of how these prophecies collate with both history and scripture that we do now. The text is wonderful with insight, often humerous during reflection and very much a thoughtful study of God's loving plan for the redemption of both Jews and Christians. David also finds time to address pseudo-intellectual criticisms of the book of Daniel which feel it's prophecies are so accurate that they must have been written after the events that are predicted. It's too bad for the folks who cannot believe because they miss an understanding of the relationship which Daniel had with God. We feel that David's challenge, to the reader, is first to recognize that God has the evil of this world under control and that He rules world affairs for His own purpose and for the good of those who love Him. Second,if we live our lives faithfully, in the grace which God gives to us, we can look at the world's uncertain future with confidence. We personally like this book and recommend it for individual reading or group study for everyone from teens to senior adults. Peace, joy and love. Jim and Sandy

I’ve been focused on books which deal with prayer recently. I just finished one titled: “The prayer of silence - Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening”; it is by an author Cynthia Bourgeault . My copy, by Cowley Publications, was published in 2004. It has 178 pages and I paid $14.95. I did not mind the cost, as it was very interesting, and I like both the book and the author. There is a nice review, of this book, in the PCUSA book reviews by Roger Lee, who is a spiritual director and elder at Woodland Park Presbyterian Church in Seattle, Washington. Roger’s review is so much nicer than any thing I could say - so I have copied his review here. "Maybe you, like me, first heard of meditation as a practice of Eastern religions or of Americans from those faiths. Possibly because other religions grabbed the publicity from our secular press first, we associate the practice with other theologies. Whatever the reason, many Presbyterians list this spiritual discipline as one of the last to explore. Perhaps, when we read Cynthia Bourgeault’s description of meditation’s fruits, we will give it higher priority, as it has a key role in Christianity, too. For those not familiar with this form of prayer, she traces its Christian roots and locates this method among other forms of meditation. After classifying meditation into three broad methods — concentrative, awareness and surrender — she then views centering prayer as a surrender meditation from the perspective of our faith tradition. Bourgeault gives a Christian perspective on the marketing claims and secular quips that we read for meditation. She states repeatedly that the fruits of centering prayer are found in daily life (as, letting go of thoughts) rather than a fabled ecstatic experience or a state of enlightenment. Due to her close work with Father Thomas Keating, she builds on his insights providing images from a different perspective. Keating is one of the key people credited with reviving Christian interest in centering prayer. Drawing on her faith journey from her Christian Science/Quaker childhood through her experiences as a grandmother, musician and Episcopal priest, Bourgeault brings perceptions explaining why meditation holds special Christian interest.While intellectually understanding meditation is important, Bourgeault invites “tasting and seeing” to aid our Christian transformation. She encourages us to practice this critical discipline by offering several different ways to begin, and to avoid common obstacles. Newcomers to meditation, as well as experienced practitioners, will find this book useful." God bless you.

I recently re-read a book titled: The Last Week - A Day-by-Day Account of Jesus’ Final Week. The authors, Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan detail the events during the week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection using the gospel of Mark as the central guide. They begin the story on Palm Sunday with a contrast of two entries into Jerusalem, the Roman governor Pontius Pilate and, on the other side of the city, that of Jesus. I found this book a scholarly analysis of Mark’s gospel which includes a philosophical argument, that one element of Jesus’ life and death was to protest the inappropriate use of power without justice for the people and the lack of concern which both the Romans and the ruling Jewish authorities had for the poor. Both the scholarly analysis of Mark’s gospel and this perspective are good reading however after two times through this book I would not recommend it for general reading by a congregation or a study group, though that may be a bias in my understanding of the book’s content. The two main reasons for my feelings are that I find the authors use references from the apocrypha with the same implied authority as verses from the bible. They also minimize the redemptive aspect of Jesus’ death and resurrection to highlight this perspective that His ministry confronts both Roman and Jewish authorities of the time. The book is an excellent philosophical thesis which challenges the reader with logically based arguments however it seems to miss the role of faith in our relationship with Jesus Christ and because of that it seems, at least for my reading, to miss the spiritual substance of His death and resurrection. I would not recommend this book for young Christians and I feel the average reader or most church study groups can do better with so many other books which focus on the role of Jesus as our Lord and Savior; though I respect and appreciate the scholarly work and perspective of these two authors. In the end, it is unfortunate that such a scholarly insight into a dimension of Jesus’ work and ministry seems to miss the real meaning of His death and resurrection.

I read a nice book on prayer titled: More ways to pray - Beyond Words: 15 Ways of Doing Prayer. It is by Kristen Johnson Ingram (Morehouse Publishing, 2004. My copy is about 110 pages and I paid $12.95 for the paperback. I'm not too good at providing a summary of the books I have read so I thought I'd use this nice review from the PCUSA web site by Deborah L. Matthews who is the Youth Director at the University Presbyterian Church in Tempe, Arizona. Deborah says: this is a useful book about deepening one's relationship with God through prayer. In each chapter, Kristen, an Episcopal minister and writing instructor, shares her own experiences of prayer and offers suggestions for new ways to enter God's presence. Some chapters, such as those on walking a labyrinth and dancing, challenge the reader to combine prayer and movement. Others commend traditional forms of prayer, such as singing, reading and taking the sacrement of Communion. This book will challenge the reader to take prayer a step deeper. Additional approaches include the incorporation of prayer into daily activities such as cooking and gazing at nature. I feel that the main point Kristen has found is the principle that every way of prayer requires a Christian to intentionally set time aside so that her/his attention is focused on God and God's will for her/his life. This is an enjoyable book, especially if one follows the author's recommendation to read just one chapter at a time so there is time for the consideration of new concepts. It will help you examine your own prayer experiences and encourage you to try something new. I feel that Beyond Words is a great book for personal devotion or small-group study.

Jim - I also read "The Shack" and as you point out, while it is "different" - the message of forgiveness is powerful. We've had a lot of hurt in our life over the past year - very confusing and unbelievable "event" - trust broken by people - so this book spoke to me.

I received a book for Christmas, this year. titled “The Shack” – it is by William Paul Young; published in 2007 by Windblown Media, ISBN: 978-0-9647292-3-0. I’ve looked and found this book on the Internet as a fairly priced soft cover, it has just under 250 pages. Paul seems to have written this work of fiction as a serious study of the impact which extreme events of “sadness” have on ourselves and our relationships. For a person, like myself, who prefers “happy” stories and considerations of metaphysics or theology – this is not comfortable, cozy, reading. It is, however, a good book for individuals who may have had to deal with events of extreme sadness as a middle age or senior adult. The message I interpret from “The Shack” is that healing for oneself and for one’s relationships comes primarily from an understanding of forgiveness that is based on a person’s faith in God. A pretty good message for us all. There are a couple considerations you should make. Some dialogs, in this work of fiction, are with personified visions of God that while constructed tastefully may not be acceptable to everyone. God the Father is seen as an African American woman who loves to bake; the Holy Spirit is an Asian woman, and Jesus is a Middle Eastern man. The spiritual attribute of Wisdom is personified as a Hispanic woman. I didn’t have any problem with these character elements in the story as it all seems to “work” well however I do know Christians who might miss the message of forgiveness because of the story format. From a book readers point of view, the prose is a storytelling style without a lot of definition between characters. All that considered – if a message of forgiveness is relevant for your life, I feel that you will like this book. Best wishes.

I recently read a nice book titled: "Home in the arms of Jesus - Finding Our Way Home: Turning Back to What Matters Most". It is by a psychologist named Mark McMinn and was published by Jossey-Bass Press in 2005. I bought the hardcover version for about $20 and there are 200 pages. Mark reflects on life as a journey through various periods of crisis. His medical practice finds that these periods often leave one yearning for the secure environment of home. Depending on the person and their life circumstance home may be real or imaginary. Mark explores this need using Jesus' parable of the prodigal son, developing a theme that each person needs to find a home-vision which includes God; in this study Mark feels that the incarnation of Jesus is the promise we have that God never forgets us or anyone for that matter. I liked this book and would recommend it as an interesting dialog on the need to develop increasing depth in our relationship with God through our faith in Jesus.

My most recent riveting read was Joel C. Rosenberg's "Epicenter - Why the current rumblings in the Middle East will change your future". Rosenberg wrote "Epicenter" to help explain why his series of novels (The Last Jihad, The Last Days, The Ezekiel Option, The Copper Scroll)seem to be predictions of actual events that subsequently happened in the Middle East and the US. "Epicenter" offers 10 new predictions that will "change your world". According to the publisher (Tyndale House)"Epicenter gives you the headlines before they happen. Epicenter explains what is happening in the Middle East and how it will impact you. Epicenter provides inside information found nowhere else." I often have found that Biblical prophecy confuses me. I have had a difficult time connecting what I read in Scripture with the reality of today. "Epicenter" is clear, supported, and brutally honest. You will find the information fascinating, terrifying and riveting. I recommend it highly. "Epicenter" can be purchased at most retail book departments or online at Amazon, CBD or half.com. It retails for about $15-$20 and is worth every penny. Rebecca

This is a nice book review that I found at http://www.pcusa.org/today/media/bookreviews.htm It is by Richard and Gail Johnson of Greenville, Texas. Their review is for the book "12 steps to transformation - Step Up: A Vital Process for Spiritual Renewal" by Richard C. Meyer (Augsburg Books, 2005, 160 pages; $12.99, paper). Many people think of "12 Steps" only in terms of the famous programs for recovery from addictions. Meyer, a Presbyterian pastor and founder of the "One-Anothering Institute" (which trains congregations and individuals in small-group ministry) presents a 12 step solution for a general-purpose path to spiritual, emotional and relational transformation. The same process of life examination, change and renewal that has helped millions of people overcome addictions is prescribed here as a Bible-based method of reflection on our relationships with God and one another. It's a gentle book with a powerful message. It is not for passive reading. You won't be able to regard it from a safe distance or as an outside observer. It is not for someone happy with the status quo. It calls the reader to authentic self-examination and to an unhesitant commitment to healthier relationships, with God and other people. The ideas in this book must be processed, thought through, internalized and tried. This takes time. So this book is not a fast read on an airplane. It is best read by a small group or by a couple; you will almost certainly want to talk about your insights with someone you trust, in a safe environment. In the end, you will know more about God, other people and yourself for having walked these 12 steps with Richard Meyer.

A friend recently gave me a book that is being studied by the mens' prayer group at his church. The central theme for this book is the development of Christian masculinity, which to the author is the development of a well-balanced, mature adult who, from a Christian perspective, can seek God's will in their life and interact effectively with members of her/his local church. I say "her/his" because while the author's focus is on the development of "manhood", I feel the lesson he is teaching applies to everyone. I'm approaching sixty years-old and normally would not have selected this topic however I found the book fun in much the same way those Mars/Venus books are fun. From my reading, the author makes two very good points. First - the development of a mature adult is not an automatic process; rather boys and young men need a variety of positive experiences and learning interactions with men. I think the author, by extrapolation, feels young women also need positive experiences and learning interactions with women. A well founded concept in every culture since early history and also a good one to bring up as a reminder from time to time. The second point is that an adult who has matured as a man (or woman) is much more likely to seek and find joyful meanings in her/his understanding of God's creation. I feel the author made this point pretty well. He has sons and the text is a mix of his experiences with references to scripture, pop movie culture, philosophy and theology from various sources. I thought about this some what unusual mix as I read the book and finally came to a perspective that since this journey is very much unique for each person and contains many sources of experience - it's also appropriate that his analysis might contain a similar mix. Like many studies on development, the author considers the process of maturation linear and he defines six distinct stages for the passage from initial boyhood to maturity which he terms - sage. I feel this is a nice book for a study group as it brings up lots of questions for dialog. It is a nice book for young parents. Most readers will be familiar with the many movie references. Folks who have read a lot of historical philosophy and theology will find the integration of this content with the author's selected scripture references an interesting consideration. I like this book even though I probably would not have selected it for my reading list without my friend's suggestion. So I should say "thank you" to him and his church's prayer group. The book's title is: "Way of the Wild Heart - A Map for the Masculine Journey"; Thomas Nelson Publishers November 2006; ISBN: 1418514136; about 250 pages. The author is: John Eldredge. The hardcover sells new for around $30, though there are many copies available on Amazon or EBAY for $12 - $15. This book follows an earlier book by John Eldredge, on the same topic, titled: "Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul"

I often find nice books at the online listing of book reviews that is sponsored by "Presbyterians Today" at: http://www.pcusa.org/today/media/bookreviews.htm One nice book that I recently found on review there is: "Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith". This is a nice text by, a well established author, Henri J.M. Nouwen. There are about 200 pages. My copy is hardcove and cost about $23 from HarperCollins Publishers. I found that this book is about finding spiritual direction in my life. Henri feels I should allow God to direct me through my life experiences. He approaches spirituality with a self-analysis of his own faith, exposing his own vulnerabilities in parables and illustrations. I found this a very nice book for someone who just wants a comfortable and enjoyable reading experience on spirituality. It might also be used by a person who does journaling or for a prayer group's reflective study. Some churches might find that it is a nice introduction for folks starting to work in ministries that provide spiritual direction. I liked this book. God bless you folks.

There is a nice book I found listed on the PCUSA book review. The title is: "Living into the Answers: A Workbook for Personal Spiritual Discernment", it is by Valeria Isenhower and Judith Todd and is published by Upper Room, 2008. There are 123 pages and it was $14 for the paper copy. This book addresses an issue we all work at -"how do you know when God is calling?" Valeria and Judith feel the answer lies in the spiritual process of discernment. Their text is intended to help people listen and discern where God is calling. It is actually a workbook that will take a reader from presuppositions, such as our personal image of God and our assumptions about God, to naming spiritual practices that they feel are helpful in discernment. In their review, discernment helps us to frame the questions that will help us figure out where God is calling. They have included a diagram, in each chapter, to orient the reader as to where you are in this study of discernment and they also include plenty of space to write out answers to key questions that they ask. There's a lot to learn about this spiritual principle of discernment; Valeria and Judith's workbook approach is both helpful and enjoyable.

Our Youth Page has a link to a daily Christian devotional for teens and young adults that we feel is excellent for everyone. The music is exceptional. Love, peace and joy. Jim + Sandy ... You can find it at: http://www.d365.org/todaysdevotion/?CFID=1716165&CFTOKEN=60022696

Bible Gateway is the main internet source for the many bible verses which we use on the NPC web page. Just about every main bible version is present at this resource and there is permission for uses which are not commercial. Bible Gateway also has many study guides and "lookup" resources on bible topics. Love, peace and joy. Jim + Sandy ... Find Bible Gateway at: http://www.biblegateway.com/

Lately, we've been keeping the "Archaeological Study Bible" handy when we do our daily reading. It's a nice reference that enables a better historical perspective of many topics. It has a nice glossary, concordance and maps in addition to the many articles. It is published by Zondervan and uses the New International Version translation. We usually read in our bibles that are the New King James Version using this publication as a reference, though it has been printed to be used as a very nice primary reading source. We like it. Our copy came from Sam's Club. Love, peace and joy. Jim + Sandy