Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

Eric Metaxas provides an in depth view of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life from childhood through to his death in Nazi Germany's Flossenberg concentration camp. The author includes lengthy quotes from primary sources which, although sometimes tiring, serves to round out Bonhoeffer's complex life. I enjoyed seeing how his life developed and how the various influences in his life informed his later thoughts. With the text coming in at 542 pages, this is a serious read, but the style of the book is inviting. Although I anticipated reading this book before it arrived, as I read through the book, I constantly looked forward to the next chapter.

I was pleased to come to understand more of the rise of Naziism and the role of those combatting this grave evil. I was intrigued by how a man, arising from a fairly liberal family could rise to become a prominent orthodox Christian scholar, living out his life consistently with the way he wrote and talked about it. Throughout his life he surrounded himself with those with whom he could work out his Christianity and those who wanted to learn more about an authentic encounter with Christ. But the greatest test of his life came when he realized that God wanted him in Germany to combat the evil of Naziism. He did not shrink from this duty, but wholeheartedly embraced his calling, going beyond contemporary Christian wisdom of the day to follow what he knew to be God's calling on his life. His life challenged me to look into where I am in my faith journey and how I can live a life more consistent with God's call on my life. My one complaint is that the author is highly positive of Bonhoeffer. I couldn't find anything in Bonhoeffer's life that Eric Metaxas doesn't approve of, and sometimes he makes great pains to show why Bonhoeffer's actions were good.

All in all, this is one of the best biographies I have read. It's a long read, but it's worth it.

Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.

More Glimpses of Heaven

This book shares the stories of numerous patients of hospice care in their months, weeks, and days before death, as told by hospice nurses. All involve some sort of religious experience before death, whereby the patient may see visions of Christ, an angel, or a loved one encouraging them onwards and upwards, or experience a general peaceful acceptance of their state, knowing they were in good hands when they die. Some involved forgiveness and reconciliation where there had been hurt, whereas in other stories loved ones celebrate the life of someone they know well. Stories range from youngsters battling leukaemia to young parents passing away during the prime of their lives to the elderly confronting cancer.

I must admit I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about end of life issues just as my young family is beginning. However, despite the terminal nature of the illnesses describe therein, the stories were all upbeat, which encouraged me. Touching was the story of a youngster who took the place of his jailed father at home, and who would not die until released by his reluctant mother. Charming was the story of a husband who dressed up his ailing bride one last time in an act of love. In some stories you could sense that God was working hard in people's hearts as each person responded to the situation at hand. It's nice to see that even though the care nurses do their best to maintain a professional atmosphere, they too are touched by the stories they act in.

The stories themselves were very approachable. Some may not connect well with the religious persuasions mentioned in the book, but I found nothing objectionable. I found it quite consistent with the nature of God to work outside the box in which we place Him. I found these stories heartwarming and uplifting. It was definitely heartening to know that God cares about us, even when we're at the point of death. This was a helpful book for me to read to see God in a caring light.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

YHWH book

I was really looking forward to reading this book. I thought it would be great to see Biblical stories which I know well, and sometimes read without really immersing myself in the story, to be told in a fresh new way. They are told in a fresh, new way, and the authors do add to the stories, trying to embellish them by making people in their stories interact in a way consistent with what we know of them. For example, the story by which Solomon shows his wisdom in choosing between two mothers and a single live baby, the authors suggest an enhanced scene with more interplay between Solomon and the two women. Unfortunately I was disappointed by the additions, as I felt they actually detracted from the stories, with too much extra added. The authors are trying to reach an unchurched generation schooled on Harry Potter, and they may well do that. They just didn't grab me as much as I thought they could have.

Book has been provided courtesy of Authentic Media and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller.

Have a New You by Friday

Dr. Kevin Leman continues his series of personal growth books in this entertaining and educational book about why you are the way you are. He combines his own research into birth order with insights into parenting style and love languages to make this foray into psychology easy to understand. He encourages his readers to make a plan of how they will change their lives with this new understanding and provides excerpts of correspondence where people have done precisely that. If you want to understand yourself and work on improving yourself, consider reading this book.

I found his humorous style a delight to read and I would like to re-read the book on occasion to look at my life and how I can change. I expect it to be helpful we parent our kids to see how best I can encourage them in their own development and how I can change my parenting style for the better. I enjoyed the anecdotes from his own life, seeing what he had to overcome to get where he is. I particularly enjoyed the snippets of correspondence he enclosed.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

City on our Knees

While I don't know TobyMac, I was intrigued by the title, and I'm glad I picked up this book. I don't read many biographies, but I really should read more. TobyMac has selected stories from past and present about people in different walks of life who have relied on their faith in God. From Alexandra whose faith at 4 years old started lemonade stands to raise money for cancer, which she died of 4 years later, to George Mueller's famous orphanages which ran on faith and God's provision. From prayers and tireless effort to end slavery to one man's search for a missing 11-year-old. From the faith of a reluctant parliamentarian to the persistence of handicapped individual doing more than most able-bodied people do. From Saint Patrick and the early Irish Celts to miracles in modern-day Haiti, God moves in those that earnestly seek Him.

I quite enjoyed reading the many stories TobyMac chose to highlight faith in God. The stories are not all the same: God uses different people and different methods to reach out to people. The stories were short, but served to highlight that one person's inspiration can change a life, or the life of a nation. These stories serve to challenge me and challenge us to step across the room or around the world to make a difference, all relying on our relationship with God on our knees. It's nice to see TobyMac feature the variety in God's kingdom. Quite often it's easy to focus on on person or place and not see the breadth of His work around the world and through the ages.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Permission to Speak Freely

I found this book refreshingly unconventional. Anne Jackson posted the question, "What is one thing you feel you can't say in the church?" on her blog and received hundreds of responses. This hit a nerve. People submitted concerns about their personal life, about trusting in God, about deep hurts that the church seems unable to respond to. Through prose, poetry, and art, Anne Jackson chronicles her own journey beginning with disillusionment of church, leading to undisciplined living, then to abuse at the hand of a youth pastor, and finally to a voyage of healing with supportive friends and a gracious, loving God.

I enjoyed the candid nature with which Ann dealt with her issues. I enjoyed the the visual art and poetry that accompanied the prose, although they seemed to be somewhat estranged from the prose. Ann's writing style is more conversational, instead of highly polished, which helps you enter in more with her story, adding a personal connection. Ann's question intrigued me, and I wish there had been more thought put into her book about the question, rather than focusing solely on her own story. Still, in telling her story, we can start to glimpse areas in our own lives where this question is relevant.

Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller.

Masquerade

I typically don't choose to read these types of books. They're just not my taste. However, I was interested in some of the history described in the book, so I thought I would give it a try. It wasn't as much of a page turner as other books, and I thought some of the story a little contrived, but hey, most books are.

Charlotte Gleason, daughter of an English noblemen, raised with not a care in the world, longed to be married. Her faithful maid, Dora, has dreams and lesser ambitions of her own. A new world suitor comes calling for Charlotte, but she is unimpressed. Circumstances at home, however, force her to set sail for America with Dora a last minute substitute. Dora revels in her new status masquerading as a lady, while Charlotte continues to look for something more. Charlotte, still not enthralled with the idea of marriage, arranges for Dora to take her place while she searches for adventure and love. Fate quickly intervenes in Charlotte's plans foiling her plans as she discovers she has strength to carry on. Dora, too finds life not as idyllic as she once believed. What does God really want from our lives anyway? Sometimes you have to give up your dreams to find that love comes from unexpected places.

I did identify with the characters not knowing for certain what to do at times, yet I found their inconstancy at disturbing at times. I did learn a little about the history of the era, and found the author's commentaries at the end of the book illuminating. In the end, though, this book is really for those interested in romance novels. It's not a bad book, it's just not my style.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Constantine Conspiracy

Firstly, I have to say that I read this book all in one sitting. I was not intending to, it just happened.

Rick Carson, the son and grandson of wealth is on a retreat to his father's ranch when his father is murdered. Suspicious that his is being framed, he runs. When he is followed, he has few friends to turn to, so he turns to the park ranger who was the first on the scene when his father died. Attracted to her, yet confused as he continues to unravel the webs that have been weaved around him, both about the murder and the park ranger, the story speeds along, with many twists and turns, as Rick tries to figure out the Constantine Conspiracy.

In many ways, I liken this book to The DaVinci Code, but refreshingly the Church is not seen as a convenient evil. It doesn't have the puzzles in the same sense, but there is still a secret conspiracy to which leads to a chase around the United States. Like all good conspiracies, it takes believers to actually believe that they exist. The good characters are believable as they cope with their past and weak points and the bad characters are not all evil. It's interesting to see what Rick has to go through in his quest for truth entails and how much the different characters' pasts point them toward the future, still alterable by choices they make.

Would I read other books by the same author? Yes. there a message? It's a little hidden. A good read? Yes. I would recommend the book to those wanting moderately fast-paced action with a number of plot twists. Enjoy!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Heartless

I found the first few pages of "Heartless" at little unconventional. Although meant to entice the audience into the book, I found myself feeling leery, unsure of where the book was taking me. The first 100 pages did little to reverse my opinions. However, from that point on I became increasingly intrigued, reading longer and longer stretches of the book at a time. I found the number of characters in the book many, which contributed to some of the characters being not as developed as they could have been, and overly predictable. On the other hand, the way in which the author attempted to portray her message was relatively novel, which certainly contributed to my enjoyment of the book. Rare amongst fiction books which I read solely for the story, I felt that this book positively affected me. The book definitely won't appeal to all audiences, but I would recommend it to those who want something a little different, and are willing to spend a little time working with the book to understand where the author is taking them. In the end it was an enjoyable story, and I'm glad I persevered.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Muse of Benison

Before posting anything, I should comment on the title. A Muse in Greek mythology is the personification of a creativity. Benison is not a word we use much any more in English, but it means 'blessing'. When I was in Africa, I was given the name 'Barka', which means blessings, often referring to the blessings we get from God. So my goal with this blog is to be a source of blessing for people. I don't claim to be God, but I do hope I enrich the lives of those who read this.