Wednesday, August 02, 2006
A Mind for God by James Emery White
"RIF: Reading is Fundamental" A Mind is a terrible thing to waste. This is your brain: this is your brain on drugs. Remember those slogans about developing your mind? Here's the question: as a Christian, are you developing your mind? James White gives ample reasons and suggestions as to exactly how a Christian can and should. He covers everything from developing a "rule" for reading (ala St. Benedict) to sacred thinking. Not only that, three book lists are included, which are worth the price of the book. These lists are...
1. Ten books to start
2. Twenty-five books toward a Christian worldview
3. One hundred books to enter the great conversation
Filled with a wealth of great reasons to think and read from a Christian perspective, this book is highly recommended. It is short and can be read over a weekend. The one criticism is that much of the material is a repeat from his fantastic work titled "Serious Times." If your read that book, much of it will be a repeat. Regardless, it is great motivation to follow in the footsteps of great Christian thinkers.
Rating: 3 Stars
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
I never thought I would like this book, and I really don't know why. It was probably because it is one of the books that is required reading in high school literature classes. Of course when you're in high school, it isn't cool to like literature, so peer pressure predisposes against liking any required book. I don't remember reading it in high school, so it may have been that it was a choice. If that was the case, I know that I read The Scarlet Letter, Fahrenheit 451, and To Kill a Mockingbird--no Gatsby.We read Gatsby for the reading group that I lead. I picked it because I knew that it was supposed to be one of the greatest American novels ever written. I don't know how it got that ranking, but I didn't think it could be that good. I was wrong.
The Great Gatsby is the story of people searching for fulfillment in the pleasure of society. Set in the 1920's, it details the decadent jazz parties and New York high society that boomed before the Great Depression. Jay Gatsby is searching for his lost love Daisy, who is married to Tom, who is having an affair with Myrtle. It seems that everyone uses relationships only to get something for themselves. Gatsby throws wild parties where hundreds of people come, but no one cares about him, except his neighbor Nick, who is the narrator. Eventually things come to a head between Gatsby, Tom and Daisy on a trip to New York in the sweltering heat of summer. Tragedy strikes twice, which brings the book to a morose and consequential ending.
Fitzgerald does in nine chapters what Dan Brown and John Grisham take 500 pages to do: tell a great story with complex characters and great action. I had this underlying thought that a book written in the 20's couldn't be good (a truly arrogant attitude!) However, Gatsby is an absolute pleasure to read--I couldn't put it down. It truly deserves it's ranking as one of the greatest American novels.
Rating: 3 Stars
Thursday, July 13, 2006
The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck
I don't like reading sermons. I really don't even like listening to them on CD. That probably sounds hypocritical since I'm a minister and actually preach them from time to time. Of course, I like listening to good ones live.John Steinbeck's last novel (I'm pretty sure as Travels with Charley was published in '62) was published in 1961 and is a veiled commentary on the state of America as it enters the turbulent 1960's. Ethan Hawley is a middle aged stalwart of honesty even though he has lost his business and is the clerk in the grocery store he once owned. His family and friends constantly lament that they are poor and speculate how life would be nice again if they could become rich. Eventually, Ethan begins to believe that money is the answer to his problems and devises a plot to reacquire the store and come into money. In order to do this, he has to compromise all his principles and use those around him to get what he wants. The story has a surprise twist at the end as Ethan learns that his children have become the very thing that he has also become.
All of which brings me back to the idea of sermons. Steinbeck looked around at what America had become and didn't like it (or what he had become and didn't like it!) As far as the message of the book, it is of course right on. We are a nation of people who believe that material possessions and influence are the keys to happiness.
Literary wise, The Winter of Our Discontent is a mixed bag. As always, Steinbeck creates very interesting characters and overly describes the geography. While the story takes too long to develop (you're halfway through before you get a hint of Ethan's sinister plot), once the action starts, it really moves along. The main downfall, though, is the long sections of moralistic "thoughts" that run through Ethan's mind. They are nothing more than Steinbeck sermons. While they are right on the money, they really slow the pace of the book.
In the final analysis, the book sounds like a grumpy old man yelling at everyone from his front porch (or Miss Dubose from To Kill a Mockingbird.) Certainly not one of Steinbeck's best efforts, but then again, his duds are miles ahead of everyone else.
Rating: 2 Stars
Thursday, June 29, 2006
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Edwina Crews introduced me the lazy town of Maycomb, Alabama in 12th grade literature class. While we had to read several books that I absolutely despised at the time, this one somehow broke through my dislike of reading. Now that I think of it, this was probably the very first "real" book that I read from cover to cover. Since high school, I've probably read it least four or five times. The amazing thing, though, is that it gets better with every reading.So much has been written about this book that I feel completely inadequate offering any insight and observations. So, therefore I won't offer any except this: To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the best books ever written for two reasons. First, it takes on the subject of racism and prejudice in both a subtle and overstated way. The two storylines (the comical accounts of the kids and their dealings with Boo Radley and the trial of Tom Robinson) are really the same story with different endings. Second, the construction of the book is pure genius. If you want a great time of literary analysis, just google the title. I'm sure that people have gotten Ph.D.'s examining this book.
I'll take a risk and assume that you've read the book (watching the movie doesn't count.) If you haven't, you really should. So, working on the the assumption that you've read it, here are my top five favorite reasons I like this book so much.
5. Atticus Finch is the absolute personification of fatherhood.
4. There was a place down the road from my childhood home that sound eerily similar to the Radley house.
3. I laugh out loud every time I think about the lie that Dill told to as to why Jem lost his pants.
2. The thought of Scout beating the daylights of her cousin at Christmas.
1. The idea of Scout cussing as a way to persuade Atticus to let her stay home from school.
Simply put, one of the best books of all time.
Rating: 3 Stars
Sunday, June 04, 2006
The Broker by John Grisham
One of three things happened to Grisham with this book.
1. He hit a dry spell. I suppose that after thinking of every conceivable plot involving corrupt lawyers and politicians, he simply took a drive on the dry side. Everyone has them, so I can give him a mulligan on this one. After all, no one hits a home run every at bat.
2. He has run out of gas. See above. Except this...if this is what we can expect from Grisham from now on, he needs to stop typing out mediocrity and go back into the courtroom to find some new material.
3. He mailed it in. When you have sold a gazillion books and made more cash than you can spend, it is only human nature to let your standards slide a bit. Understandable, but not excusable.
What ever the case, the latest installment from the Courtroom Master is well below his standards to say the least. It varies slightly from the usual formula in that he delves into international espionage. Actually, I read an interview with him where he said that he threw a dart at a map, went to Italy for a couple months of "research" (translation: vacation), and set the novel there. That much becomes painfully obvious as much of the book reads like a travel log and Italian language lessons.
So, here's my message to Johnny G-man...
Dear John,
I'm a longtime devoted follower and reader. However, I'm not a brainless lemming who's going to follow you into literary mediocrity. You're much better than this.
If you just duffed this one, here's your mulligan. If you think this was a good novel, then you seriously need to hire an editor who will look you in the eye and say, "This is crap: redo about half of it and resubmit it." If the tank is empty, then make like Mitch McDeere and take the money and run to the Caribbean. No one wants to watch a 50 year old player stumble around the outfield (or read anything he's written.)
Consider yourself warned.
Rating: 1 star.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown
Is it possible that everything that we’ve ever been taught about Jesus, the Bible, and Christianity is not only untrue, but the product of a conspiracy that has lasted for nearly 2,000 years? That is exactly what Dan Brown, the author of international best seller The DaVinci Code, wants you to consider. Absolutely impossible? Not according to Brown.
Does all of this seem confusing to you? If so, you’re not alone. Christians have certainly been taken aback with implications of the book. On the flip side, the book has created quite a stir among those who do not consider themselves Christians. The implications of the book not only confirm their belief that there is no validity to the claims of Christianity, but that it is the product of a massive cover-up. So, as the world prepares for the release of the movie (with “A” list director Ron Howard and star Tom Hanks), here’s the dirt on The DaVinci Code.
Why is everyone so freaked out?
The ideas and theories in The DaVinci Code are certainly not new. Some of them are centuries old. However, three things about this book and upcoming movie have thrust it into the limelight.
First, the success of the book has made the world (literally) pay attention. It has sold over 40 million copies world wide in hardback. It seems like everyone has read the book.
Second, while the story is fiction, the author states on the opening “fact” page that “All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.” The problem is that Brown’s claim isn’t true. He deftly mixes small amounts of history with massive amounts of fiction. Despite coming under attack from everyone from theologians to historians to art professors (many of whom are not Christians) Dan Brown has staunchly maintained that the novel is based on fact and truth.
Third, the novel blurs the line between fact and fiction. This has led many people to believe the claims that the book makes against Christianity. Those who do not know the truth have begun to question their faith. If even one of the claims of the book is true, it would mean that Christianity as we know it is a complete sham.
What is the book/movie all about?
The plot of the book is basically this…A Harvard professor accidentally stumbles upon a clandestine society that has been sworn to protect a secret as old as the church itself. This hidden “truth” is that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and had children. This has been suppressed by the church for centuries while a secret group has guarded the secret. In a nutshell, here are the major ideas that are presented as factual.
The divinity of Jesus was not a doctrine of the church until a group of bishops voted on it.
Jesus and Mary Magdalene had a child.
There were many records of the life of Jesus. The ones that told about Jesus and Mary were suppressed by the church. Then, Emperor Constantine edited and changed the story into the four gospels to support the new idea that Jesus was divine.
The earliest records of Jesus (Gnostic gospels) do not appear in the New Testament have only been recently discovered.
The original religion of Jesus was pagan oriented and included ritualistic sex.
Is any of this true?
Here’s the rub: Brown does such a good job of mixing fact and fiction that the average person can’t tell where one stops and the other begins. While there isn’t enough space here to go into all the details (and others have done this already), the simple answer is an emphatic “NO!” Scholars (sacred and secular) have dismissed the “facts” of the book as untrue. The truth is that there is little of it in The DaVinci Code. This goes not just for the theology, but for the history and art interpretation. In fact, Brown is currently embroiled in a lawsuit for allegedly plagiarizing most of his book. If Brown would have said from the beginning that it was all fiction, it would have caused a lot less stress on everyone. The problem is that he maintains that it is all true.
How should I respond to this?
Be Constructive
Many times Christians are only known for protesting against things. However, this is a tremendous opportunity to present the truth. It is rare that so many people are investigating the history and origins of the church and Bible. A critical or condescending attitude will not garner positive results. Share the truth in a constructive manner to those who question it.
Be Cautious
If you haven’t read the book or seen the movie, don’t talk like you have. This will only reduce your credibility when talking with someone about them. If you don’t have firsthand knowledge, you can say something like, “While I haven’t read the book, I understand that it questions much of what we know to be true.”
Even when defending the background and origins of the Bible, make sure that you have your facts straight. If we criticize Dan Brown for confusing fact and fiction, we are no better if we are guilty of the same.
Be Conversational
Dan Brown has given us the opportunity of a lifetime. The DaVinci Code has caused people to investigate the truth of Christianity. The good news is that we have the truth on our side. We have no reason to be afraid of The DaVinci Code or its agenda and message. Rather than proclaiming that people are wrong, allow them to ask questions. Then, be prepared to present the facts that the Bible is indeed trustworthy and Jesus is the Son of God.
Rating: 2 Stars
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Defeating Darwinism
I'm probably in the vast minority of Christians when it comes to the subject of Darwinism and evolution. While I certainly don't think that Darwinism or evolution as defined by modern science is true, (and I think the biblical account of creation IS true), the whole debate doesn't get me going. It probably should, but I don't start foaming at the mouth or stalk the local high school biology teacher (who most likely is a Christian anyway.) Other issues do wind me up, but this who evolution/intelligent design/creation debate doesn't. I'm not saying I'm correct in being apathetic; it's just the fact. I'm just constantly amazed that Christians expect those who aren't to think, act, and believe like they are. We would all get a lot more sleep at night if we didn't.
Now that that's out of the way, I really like reading Philip Johnson. He is a law professor at UC Berkeley. He wrote Darwin on Trial and Reason in the Balance. He also seems to be the leader of the anti-Darwinists. The best part about Johnson is that he realizes that the real issue isn't creation vs evolution. The real issue is theism vs naturalism and he couches all his arguments in the philosophical realm--where the battle really is.
Defeating Darwinism is Johnson's third book on the debate. This one is different from his previous two, though. It is designed as a simple introduction rather than an in-depth analysis. Actually, he states that the book was written for parents and older students as a way to prepare them for higher learning. He addresses such issues as "turn up your baloney detector," and "a real education in evolution." He also addresses the topic of intelligent design. While these chapters provide good introductions to the topics, the most helpful contribution is the strategy for driving a "wedge of truth" into the debate. Anyone who wants to take a stand for creationism (or simply against Darwinism) should take his strategy to heart.
If you want a detailed scientific analysis of the whole debate, then read Darwin on Trial. If you want a detailed philosophical analysis, then read Reason in the Balance. If you want a quick primer on the how to think about the debate, then this is exactly what you're looking for.
Rating: 3 Stars
Monday, December 12, 2005
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
"The universe as we know it is in the past. We cannot witness anything in the present because of the time it takes the light to travel to our brain." Need more to scramble your brain? Try Einstein's theory of relatively...time travel...why we only remember the past and not the future...black holes...and quantum physics. These are some of the topics that physicist Stephen Hawking tackles in this "layman's" book on physics, astronomy, and seriously hard science.
Stephen Hawking has a reputation as being the most brilliant "theoretical" physicist alive today. He has been confined to a wheel chair for decades from Lou Gerhig's disease. He can't speak, walk, or use most of his body. However, he teaches at Oxford and continues to use his mind to the fullest extent.
This is supposed to be modern physics for the average person. Well, I must be below average because I couldn't keep up with large parts of this book. You spend a lot of time in the deep end of the pool. However, the parts of the book that I did understand were absolutely fascinating. Not only does Hawking have a talent for making physics interesting, he also provides bits and pieces of the history of science at the same time. He tells the interesting stories about how scientist believed certain things at certain times throughout history.
While I didn't keep pace with everything here's what I did learn: everyone is a drooling idiot compared with Einstein and he revolutionized the way the world operates today (even thought we don't know it), quantum physics is the basis for modern computers, and time travel is possible, according to Einstein. The funny thing is that Hawking's theory about the beginning of the universe bares a certain resemblance to the biblical view (certainly not totally, but in parts.)
If you're up for a definite challenge and want to tell people that you're reading about quarks, event horizons, quantum particles, and singularities, then take a stab at Hawking. Prepare yourself for an education and a mind stretching experience.
Overall rating...3 Stars
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Freakonomics!
What do Japanese sumo wrestlers and public school teachers in Chicago have in common? They cheat!
Which is a child more likely to die from: a gun or swimming pool? A swimming pool!
Why do drug dealers live with their moms? They don't make enough money to have their own place!
These are just a few of wild and crazy topics that economist Steve Levitt expounds upon in this incredibly interesting book. I know absolutely nothing about economics (except that oil companies gouged us on gas prices over the summer and fall!), but Levitt doesn't really talk about them. Instead, he applied economic theories and tool and applies them to weird stuff (like what do real estate agents do differently when they sell their own house?) that we encounter in everyday life.
When you stop and think about his conclusions, they aren't all that earth shattering. It is just that you would never think about the questions he asks. This is very engaging book that is very easy to read (even for people like me who can barely balance a check book.) If you're looking for something to cleanse your palette, this is a great way to do it.
Overall Rating: 2 Stars
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Blue Like Jazz
After Kirk the Rock Star and John the Hip Single (if you read the book you'll get the names) both recommended the book, I finally caved in and read it. It should be noted that both of them are died in the wool postmoderns and I am not.
Miller strings together personal stories, reflections, and musings to create a very accessible examination the gospel in everyday life. He takes on such topics as faith, money, sex, confession, and love by coming in the back door. His quaint stories about his world of friends provide the context for trying to live as a Christian in a secular world. Sometimes preachy, often humorous, and always transparent, Miller provides a disarming approach to Christianity.
I think it would be very difficult to read this book and not have some kind of reaction to it. For the younger, postmods, I can see Miller really resonating with them. He embodies the very qualities they embrace (transparency and honesty about struggles.) For us gen-xers, (at least for me) it had a somewhat different effect. While I found myself drawn into his world and stories, I kept being annoyed by the author himself. His constant parading of his smoking and drinking, the Republican and fundamentalist bashing, and the denunciation of suburban megachurches left a bad taste.
Miller seems to be a political liberal who gravitates toward conservative, evangelical Christianity but can't leave the liberal lifestyle behind. While he gives lip service to the ideas of community and church, his concept of faith is ultimately individualistic and sometimes self-centered. The funny thing is that because this annoys me, it says that I really need to look beyond this to the message of the book, which I absolutely need. We need to see the world as Jesus does and love the world as Jesus does. Nothing less will win the world to Christ. Preach it Don the Writer!
One other tiny aspect that annoyed me was the writing style. It is pedantic and simplified. One example is that he rarely uses contractions, which makes it seem like you're reading Dr. Seuss at times. For a postmod author, his writing doesn't reflect authentic dialogue.
Overall, this is a good representation of the up and coming generation's view of Christian spirituality. If you're a bit older, look past the irritating sidelines and see the tremendous message we all need to see.
Rating: 3 Stars
