The Promise of Paradox - a faith-filled promise
936852
The Promise of Paradox by Parker Palmer is a refreshing view of the traditional values and beliefs of Christian faith written 30 years ago and now in reprint. He writes his own introduction explaining the various changes in both his language and thought over the 30 year period. Henri Nouwen wrote the first introduction which is also included.
To live a faith in honest integrity one needs to come to grips with the ambiquity in life or the"belly of paradox" as he often refers.  The spirit moves in ways that are often not of conventional wisdom and it is the holding of the tension between seeming polarities where the spirit grows, ripens, and truly connects with God. His message is one of unitive thinking rather than dualistic thinking and Parker Palmer lifts the reader to new dimensions and challenges with his message of love and compassion for all living creatures while embracing their diversity.  A book for all faiths and all spiritual paths that leads one into greater connection with self and the God within.
635554
As someone who knows that nothing can be proved spiritually or religiously (yet, I still have hope science will get there), I decided at some point in life that I prefer to believe bc it makes me happier. This book challenged some of my assumptions with it's philosophical and logically driven style. It helped me to further understand my own beliefs and create more tolerance for a new perspective. I recommend this book for anyone interested in a rigorous philosophical exercise about faith and morality!
2330302
( review via epicbookquest.com )

Hope is dead. That is the message that Trent Cooper hopes will take the younger generations by storm- while simultaneously launching him into a corporate career of power and wealth. Working for a media company, he hopes to use the seeming despair of the millennials to drive the latest fad by taking away any sense of hope they may have, and making a mockery of religion. Soon the phrase is seen everywhere- from advertisements, to trendies on street corners holding `hope is dead' signs. A new culture of despondency has been born, and it seems there is no way to stop the evil that is rising. . .

But God has a plan. One by one, He is calling to the hearts of those who will listen, drawing people in from all walks of life, asking them to step out in faith to do what they know is right. The choice lays before them- ignore the call, or choose to follow His lead no matter the cost- something they call `the turning'. As one step slowly leads to the next, this diverse group of people are finally brought together for the ultimate revelation of God's plan to fight against the darkness, and remind the world of the ultimate hope that is through Jesus Christ.

Wow! What a story- this book gave me chills. Bunn is a fantastic author, masterfully weaving a host of colorful characters into a thought-provoking story that will both challenge and inspire you. The premise of this book is only a slightly amplified version of reality, and all it takes is a fleeting glance at today's youth to discover that we are surrounded by a culture of death and despair. Skulls, zombies, witchcraft, and an open mockery of Christian morals are now the social norm, and God is calling all believers to take a stand and to shine the light of Jesus Christ into the darkness -now. The question is, will we take the turning and obey?

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through River North Fiction, a division of Moody Publishers, in exchange for an honest review.
3412429
In the back of this cogent little book, C.S. Lewis is quoted:
"If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is not part of the Christian faith.  Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak."
Through sound exposition, Wilkinson demonstrates, in a gentle yet rigorous way, the radical nature of God's grace:
Our limited minds struggle grasp the simple but awesome truth that we are true heirs to the Kingdom and we should act accordingly.  That is, we should act with the freedom and confidence that comes from knowing that we live according to God's will, with unconditional love and sacrifice of self, even for our enemies, yet joyously accepting his undeserved favor now and in eternity.

I'll be giving this book to many of my friends.
3180713
Paradox Lost encourages the reader to push thru fear and ask difficult questions regarding free will and God's sovereign choice, the Trinity and other contradictory beliefs--thru this process we discover Jesus Christ. Laid out with a combination of personal stories, historical events, biblical examples and excerpts from authorities in the subject matter --each chapter concludes with reflection questions. The questions are significant, weighty and challenging.  I found myself craving to discuss each chapter!
3968168
'The Prosperity Paradox may seem an unlikely recommendation for a gift book, but I enthusiastically make such a recommendation. It's the perfect present for anyone who has a passion for social and economic justice. It also serves as a wonderful introduction to the wisdom of Henry George, the American economist whose insights are even more timely today then they
were when he first offered them. This slender volume contains nine of his speeches, and each one is fueled by such stirring passion that it is as if the reader were actually in the presence of a gifted orator. There is a Christian emphasis in most of the speeches, but Christian belief is not necessary in order to be convinced by George's clear logic. All that is necessary in the reader is a desire to see the end of poverty. I love this book!
2415889
In a world of uncertainty, pain, and struggle, where do you find solid assurance and unshakable truth?

Gifted Bible teacher and inspiring Women of Faith speaker, Sheila Walsh, offers powerful, heart-filled teaching on ten bedrock promises of God, providing the foundation for daily confidence, joy, and hope.

In "The Shelter of God's Promises," Sheila searches Scripture for what God has promised us, what God's promises mean, and how encounters with Christ are the eternal fulfillment of His unrelenting commitment to us. In this riveting walk through some of the Bible's most compelling stories, Walsh unveils ten foundational promises of God that secure our lives during even the most difficult times. Sheila weaves her hallmark storytelling, inspiring personal experience, and Scripture to help readers gain a trust in God that will sustain them for a lifetime.

As I read through this book, I found myself saying, "This is me." Throughout her stories and illustrations, I saw my life, my struggles, and my failures. At times I would laugh through my tears as I was reminded that God does have a plan for my life and that even though I may not understand the pain, He has made me a promise. . . several, in fact. Every page of this book delivered hope and peace.

The book includes an in-depth Bible study, and as I read, I couldn't help but think what a wonderful topic this would make for my next series of Sunday School lessons. In these dark times, we all need to be reminded of the promises of God. As the old song says, "You can't stand on promises if you don't know what they are." Sheila has done a wonderful job of making sure that her readers not only know God's promises, but understand them as well. This is a must read for anyone who has ever asked, "What now, Lord?"

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
4838252
David Sanford has a unique message for those who are struggling through the doubt and uncertainty of postmodern Christianity. God is always present, even when it seems He has disappeared altogether. God's perceived absence is our reaction to emotion, not reality. Because of this misconception, when trials come, we are all to ready to abandon our faith  - fully believing that God has abandoned us. It is at this critical juncture of crisis vs. faith that David Sanford's book steps in with some thought-provoking ideas.

Sanford identifies nine things that will wreck or build your faith. Each chapter deals with a specific idea and how that single circumstance can either destroy or reinforce a believer's faith in God. From the obvious faith wrecker, "experiencing evil and suffering" to the amazing faith builder "rediscovering God's ideal and allowing Him to write a vibrant new script for your life," Sanford covers a plethora of obstacles that plague today's Christians. He also deals with issues that destroy the seeds of faith in unbeliever's lives and how we, as Christians, can open ourselves to these discouraged seekers and help them to recognize the gift of salvation found only in Jesus Christ.

My time as a volunteer in a women's rehab facility during the last 15 months is confirmation that Sanford's message is both timely and necessary. This book will challenge Christian's who are not struggling, and it will gently encourage those who are disillusioned and questioning. I highly recommend this book!
1408432
Peter Rollins new book, The Divine Magician: The Disappearance of Religion and the Discovery of Faith, is a provocative theological reflection, and to my mind is Rollins best work yet.

The book picks up where his previous work, The Idolatry of God, ended by reiterating that the meaning-laden concept of God can actually be the very thing that the bible and Christianity in general prohibits. While there are a few basic re-treads from that work, one that is of particular importance is Rollins interpretation of original sin as the desire of the prohibited object. This reiteration from Idolatry is of seminal importance to Divine Magician, as it lays the foundation for the analogy of the three-part magic trick that gives the books its title.

That analogy, incisive as it is, may also give cause for discomfort for those who adhere to a rigidly Cartesian understanding of the world. This seems, of course, intentional on the part of Rollins. Nevertheless it is an effective and provocative way of interpreting the central narrative event in Christianitynamely the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus. The central argument in Rollins reading of that event is that through it we become aware of the non-existence of the thing that we think we seek through itthe empty room of the Holy of Holies. It is not simply that God has left, but that God was never there to begin with, and it is through the death of God the Son that God reveals this truth of Godself to humanity; that God is not confined to some sacred space but is rather in the seemingly profane.

While this may be troubling to some (and there are elements of it that are troubling to me as wellas there should be! ), it is where Rollins takes this thesis that makes it compelling: by removing the idea of a sacred loci for Godif not the idea of God in a locus full stopRollins is then positioned to make a persuasive and inspiring challenge to those who identify as Christians to relieve themselves of their infatuation with God as the Divine Magician who solves all of their problems. Instead, with that God being revealed by Godself as being a sham, the implorance of the bible becomes un-entangled from the pseudo-platonic trappings of transcendence and clearly reveals itself to be an active engagement with the world within the world while subversively remaining not of  the world.

This is the triumph of The Divine Magicianwhere The Idolatry of God concluded with a rather vacuous extortion to do nothing (and this was my primary critique of that work [and I know that may not actually be the conclusion of that book, merely the seeming conclusion]), Divine Magician exhorts to engage. It argues for an embodied Christianity that lives into the (subversive) reading of the Resurrections call to cease seeking the redemption unto desired status, and see instead the redemption of the profane that is present in this world as revealed in Christ.

While I found The Divine Magician stimulatingand in many ways encouragingit is not a work of comforting theology. It is instead a provocation that calls into question the very bedrock structures of our religious perspectives and deftly subverts them. It is a book that unsettles the comfort of avoidance and demands an honest (and sometimes necessarily overstated) evaluation of how our perspectives match up to the reality we inhabit. I would not recommend this book to everyone as a systematic theological argument that lines up perfectly with my own, but I would recommend this book for everyone as a challenge to that system which in many ways pushes fruitfully beyond that system and revealsas it argues the bible doesthe inadequacies of any such system as ultimate.
3029913
Elizabeth Mattis Namgyal has spent much of her life in open and deep inquiry into the ever changing interdependence of all things.  The generous transmission of her delight in this pursuit is a liberating gift for those who wish to go beyond the confines of an imagined knowable and controllable world.  "The Logic of Faith" is indeed a gateway to discovering a sense of grace and empowerment arising from the practice of not knowing.  She delves into Buddhist teachings while remaining personally and societally relevant.  She challenges us with lively contemplations to probe and expand our own sense of what's "real".  In this age of factionalism and partisanship, her book points the way to an unshakeable shared humanity.
3101696
Gordon Dalbey has pushed and struggled to understand, and stand under the sovereignty of God as revealed in Jesus. He is able to see the genius and foibles of all the strands of Christianity, and aches that the church cannot affirm and embrace the variety, and quit knocking the shortcomings of those who are different. Through insightful personal reflection, Dalbey celebrates the varieties of healthy spirituality, and punctures pretensions. Experience has clarified his thinking; this book is valuable for those who wish to heal a broken church.
3873423
I deeply enjoyed reading this new book by Mick Mooney.  In this book he managed to weave a real plot with believable characters together with his
faith sentiments - a difficult feat.  It would be easier to simply share faith sentiments, or to simply create fiction, but to do both at once is much more challenging.  The book really made me think about my own Christian faith, my experiences with church, and the disappointments and hurts I've experienced and seen others experience in Christian religious settings.  Apparently religion drives people with an attempt at self righteousness, which also involves despising and condemning others.  I recommend this new book to Christians and to unbelievers, but especially to Christians, because it will help them to confront and question the religiosity that passes for Christian faith.  My only criticism would be that I think the book ends a bit too neatly, tying up all the loose ends of a broken family too readily.  This makes the ending less believable, in my opinion, than it would have been if the ending had been just a bit more tragic.  A very promising fiction work.  I certainly look forward to reading the rest of the series which the author promises will be coming.  The book will inspire me to think about my own life, relationships, faith, and about Christianity for a long time to come.  Thanks, Mr. Mooney.  I also think Mr. Mooney may have created a new genre here.  I've never read a book quite like this one.  Be sure to read it.
3930263
This is a great book. Parker Palmer is a big fan of Thomas Merton, who understood that at the heart of Christian spirituality is paradox. Paradox unlocks the doors of Christian tradition to Non-dual awareness, New Mind, and Holistic Consciousness -Amos Smith (author of Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots)
472390
This book is self-described as a conversation between faith and science, and it is a friendly conversation. Some of the readings find faith in science, and some of them explore parallel or complimentary concepts. The author takes the study from the universe level gradually down to the quantum level, exploring phenomena such as Olber's paradox, sailing upwind, and the uncertainty principle. The author asks us to accept mystery a little more often that I had hoped for, but I suppose that's because "now we see through a glass, darkly" (I Cor 13:12).
4641470
"Surely our lives are greatly enriched when we recognize the mysterious beauty of the interplay between God's ways and ours." Randy Alcorn

If God is sovereign and has predestined our lives, then how does man practice free will, or meaningful choice? In hand in Hand, Randy Alcorn takes the reader up the mountaintop to experience Arminianism (man's free will) and down the mountain to brush against Libertarianism and a few other "isms." On the way up the opposite mountain, the reader encounters Determinism and finally Calvinism (God's sovereignty).

A thoughtful approach to a difficult subject, hand in Hand clearly demonstrates that God's thoughts are not our thoughts, and God's ways are not our ways.

Alcorn recognizes the value of each of the theories while acknowledging that they are man's wisdom and not God's. He encourages readers to be good Bereans, studying the Scriptures, opening our minds, and letting God teach us His truths.

"When I think of the examples of Paul, Elisha, and Daniel, I can't help but marvel at the beauty of the unequal but real partnerships forged when we submit our choices to God and walk hand in Hand--His the strong and sovereign Hand lovingly reaching down, ours the weak hand eagerly reaching up." Randy Alcorn

Whether Arminian, Calvinist, or somewhere in between, according to Alcorn, each position has "snags." He recommends that the reader study the Scripture "unguarded, shield down," to let God lead where He wants to go.

Complete with pithy pull quotes that have Tweetable qualities, Alcorn has created a beautiful gift for thoughtful small groups to go deeper with God. Small group study questions are included in the book.

Although some might think that God's sovereignty and man's meaningful choice are contradictory, if we consider them from the eternal perspective, they are "Yes," and "Amen." It's a gift of perplexities.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
3321505
Unity In Mission, is an amazing story in the life of the Episcopal Church. It is a historical and scholarly work that will provoke and compel new perceptions on what it means to be a community of faith.

We are well into the 21st century now.  We are seeing exponential changes in science, medicine, technology, society, and the world at large.

In an observable universe, which is 28.6 billion parsecs in diameter, our perceptions of who we are as a 'People of God' are ever expanding. Our whole sense of self and place within the world is expanding and changing, as is creation, as are all our relationships.

The Episcopal Church offers a model within these dynamics that is astounding.  It offers us an old, and a new paradigm based upon a love of scripture, tradition, reason, community, relationships, and service in Christ through the church to all humankind.

Unity In Mission, calls us to re-imagine the message of the Gospel for the Twenty-First Century, the "Good News" of the Gospel, a message that is  calling us into a deeper understanding of God found in human relations and service to humankind.

These are new life enriching and life affirming relationships we discover through a church community that is radically open, radically inclusive, and grounded in the historical hospitality and orthodox tradition of the church. It is a continuation of the Great Commission, which Christ gave to his Disciples and to all Christianity.

Matthew 28:19-20New King James Version (NKJV) ~ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen

The Holy Eucharist: Rite One (Book of Common Prayer)
Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ saith:
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great
commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments
hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Ron Starbuck ~ Saint Julian Press
Author of "There Is Something About Being An Episcopalian"
3773415
This book beautifully illustrates an intelligently heart-felt narrative of Scripture that a pastor could preach and practice in a local congregation. One might hope for that pastor to reflect similar sensibilities as does Shroyer, whose Journey congregation, when I visited, appeared as authentic and open as she presents it in this book. The utility of this work is in its artful presentation that invites the reader to enter into emergence Christianity in all the humanity, biblical context, and life story which the author presents. The book presents a powerful vision of hope and promise that may touch many looking for a practical and grounded approach to seeing a new Christianity that would speak to the contemporary lives of people in the pew.