Cows, dogs, and Christians
935795
To publicize the environmental costs of the Keystone XL pipeline, Ken Ilgunas decided to walk the length of its proposed route from the Alberta tar sands to Houston. Think about that for a minute - an environmentalist decided to walk through some of the continents most politically-conservative regions and argue against a project that would cost some people in those regions their jobs. Well come back to that.

Ilgunas writes very well, and the book is a pleasure to read.  His various adventures move the story along. Hes afraid of aggressive cows, and he never really figures out how to defend himself properly. He also has some scary encounters with dogs - especially in Kansas and Oklahoma, for whatever reasons.

Youll learn about the landscapes and peoples of the Great Plains, the overlooked heart of the continent. Youll meet kind people, living in communities both charming and falling apart. Youll see some police harass Ilgunas for being different, while others help him on his way.  With Ilgunas, youll wonder what a black man attempting the same journey would experience.

It takes too long, but youll also see Ilgunas slowly realize that he has something to learn from the people of the plains. Remember that he thought he would be teaching them about the environment.  He quickly moves away from confronting them on the Keystone XL, and starts to listen to them. Even so, he never considers changing his mind, though he hopes to change theirs.

Ilgunas also begins with a distrust of Christians, based on the political positions of conservative evangelicals.  While walking through their land, he learns that they are kind to strangers. He also finds that their political landscape includes people who live the social gospel, a stance that resonates well with his own liberal politics.

Id like to see him reflect more on his personal growth here, as he does in Walden on Wheels.  Still, this American story is well worth reading.
4151492
I received a pre-release electronic copy of this book from the author for honest and thoughtful review. As a veterinary professional with 20+ years of experience and who often has conversations about the very topics covered in this book with clients, other veterinary professionals and friends I was very excited to read it.
I was not disappointed.
I am also an ordained pastor who happens to have a deep and abiding interest and formal training in the sciences, especially biology and, as such, am often the pastor that people are pointed towards when dealing with animal loss, quality of life or end stage of life issues.
This book affirmed many of the concepts, ideas and thoughts I had formulated over the course of years of research and consideration. At some points, it was as if the author, whom I do not know personally, had sat down over coffee and had long and powerful discussions.
This book is well written in an easy almost conversational style. It is well documented and draws from a huge variety of resources covering a broad spectrum of theological bents. The scientific references are documented and well-researched as are the passages from solid main-stream theologians.
However, lest one think that this is a dry research paper, the author also includes many personal anecdotes and observations that will be meaningful to most pet owners and animal lovers. One may ultimately disagree with the conclusions the author draws ( I happen to agree fairly strongly with him) but it won't be because the materials are not well presented.
I recommend this book with much enthusiasm and excitement.
1607784
Animals, like the human animal, are living, breathing, feeling, loving, soul-filled children of God.
We are all in this together.

We all get tired, we all get wet in the rain.
We all experience loneliness, we all experience pain.
We all thirst for water, and we all thirst for love.
We are all Children of God, Who's Angels watch over us from high up above.
We all breathe, we all play, we all feel.
We all get hungry and we all appreciate a satisfying meal.
We are all born, and we all deserve to live life.
Nobody should be left behind, or be subjected to a dissecter's deadly knife.
We all die, and we are all born into everlasting love and life in Heaven.... in paradise.
Where, as one spiritual family, we all share love, and we all get treated nice.
In Heaven, we all gather together, one species, one race, one religion, and all of us have lots of fun.
In Heaven, we all realize, that we all are really ONE.

We are all one.
One life.
One Soul.
One Spiritual Family.
1385994
This book is beautifully illustrated and captures the Christmas message of compassion and mercy. The book features the animals that may have been present at Jesus' birth, and it also shows Mary, Joseph, and Jesus.
3843500
Peggy Frezon has penned an animal short story compilation that blows similar publications out of the water. The reader experiences a veritable Noah's Ark marching through the pages. Not limited to the 4 legged, creatures with 8 legs, 2 legs, too few legs and no legs move capably through the pages and right into our hearts. Cute animals and animals with faces only a mother could love both receive their due. Tales of the author's own pets, both past and present are aptly intertwined with animals owned by others and animals in the news. This book can be read in snatches and grabs due to it's short story format but this is sometimes difficult to put down, as one story flows seamlessly into the next. Interspersed throughout are also scientific facts of everything from the health benefits of being with animals to instances in which animals can further medical advances or serve to ease the hardships of humans needing companion animals. The stories will coax tears from you and make you laugh out loud. If you don't have a pet, you will want one after reading this. This well rounded book has it all. It is an inspirational, whimsical, bittersweet, informational and devotional book all rolled up into one. There are well placed biblical verses at the conclusion of some of the stories, but not so many that you wouldn't feel comfortable lending or gifting this to anyone you know regardless of their faith. For someone like me who always looks for the animal stories first in magazines, this was a treasure trove. It will forever color the way I view the relationships between animals and the humans who love them. Although the book was generous in length, I admit to being disappointed when I reached the end.
240282
A great book with real situations that unfortunately happen in real life. That God for the people that love animals and take care of them!
Excellent
4942435
A lady with an agenda.  She tells the story of her animal rescues while wearing her heart on her sleeve.  Most of the book is spent trying to convince people to become vegetarians in order to save the life of untold animals.  There are some heart rending descriptions about what corporate farms, hoarders and people that cause misery to the animals in their care.  Lots of food for thought and to consider what we are doing to the earth and ourselves as well as the animals.  This was not a fictional story.
2610389
I actually read this book while on vacation at a lake house two weeks ago.  I don't own it yet, but plan to buy two copies for friends.  The author is not a theologian or pastor, but rather just a dog lover who is also a Christian.  She takes her experiences with pets (cats are included in the book, too) and relates them to the characteristics of God as taken from the Bible.  Each "chapter" is approximately two or three pages long and could serve as a nice daily devotion.  This book is great for pet lovers who are not believers in order to introduce them to God.  I think it would also make a great coffee table book as a conversation starter for non-Christians that are in your home.  If the author had used scripture references, I would've given her 5 stars.
1913076
I must say that I was initially put off by the title of this book. I assumed from the title that this must be another one of "those" Christian arguments for vegetarianism--you know, the ones that use out of context prooftexts to argue that Jesus really was a vegetarian.  However, one of my colleagues did his Ph. D. work with Richard Alan Young, and he told me that Young was not only an excellent scholar, but a person who lived his convictions.  So I decided to give the book a try, in spite of the title.

I am so glad I did.  Young deals with the major issues and texts which arise when the question of vegetarianism is posed.  Each chapter heading is a question which leads the author into a discussion of the relevant texts and historical background.  He addresses questions like "Was Jesus a Vegetarian?" "Didn't God Permit Us to Eat Meat?" and "Didn't Paul Condemn Vegetarianism as Heresy?" with honesty and theological integrity.  He does not try to force intepretations out of the texts, but lets them speak for themselves, offering a balanced and evenhanded treatment.

Most importantly, Young offers one of the best arguments for Christian vegetarianism I've read to date.  He does not resort to prooftexting or spurious arguments based on scant biblical evidence.  Instead he builds the case for vegetarianism upon a much broader biblical perspective--the peaceable kingdom.  In sum, Genesis 1 and 2 offer the ideal view of human existence:  humans and animals are vegetarians, humans are the caregivers of God's creation, the world and all creation are at peace. Unfortunately, all that is shattered in Genesis 3.  However, the biblical material looks forward to a reinstatement of that original harmony.  Examining the prophets vision of the peaceable kingdom, Young concludes that the role of Christians is to do God's will on earth as it is in heaven.  In other words, Jesus' vision of the kingdom of heaven is a here and now concept, not a concept that will occur only in heaven.  "The peaceable kingdom encompasses the full range of human moral aspirations, depicts peaceful coexistence between humans and nonhumans, and represents the goal toward which God is guiding history" (150).

Our job as Christians is to envision the peaceable kingdom and work to bring it about.  Christ's act on the cross was an act of restoration, not just between humans and God, but between humans and other humans, and humans and all creation.  Thus, Christians are to be actively involved in that restorative vision.  If the peaceable kingdom is to be established, one fundamental step toward that outcome is refraining from eating meat. There can be no peace between animals and humans if we continue consuming animals.

Additional touches set this book apart as well: each chapter concludes with a wholesome vegetarian recipe; the last chapter offers a basic discussion of how to "go vegetarian;" and Young provides a bibliography for further reading.

Don't be put off by the title of the book--I found out that the publisher insisted upon it to make the book more "provocative."  This book is a must read for any Christian who desires to investigate Christianity's relationship to animal rights and vegetarianism. It is well written, thoroughly researched, and easily accessible to anyone interested in the subject.
1776180
I looked forward to reading this book.  I expected wholesome and heart warming as the dog Barley shares a behind the scenes look at Jesus Christ and his ministry while here on earth.  Imagining walking along side him.  It never occurred to me that Jesus would have a dog.  But why not?  How silly of me.  One of the greatest gifts that he has given us is the companionship of a dog.

The reader can't help but love Barley.  It was a great story that opens the readers eyes to see what it must have been like being apart of Jesus' life being one of his followers friends.  Being his
'best friend'.  I kind of had this scenario going on in my mind but the connection between Jesus and Barley really didn't come out in the story until near the end.

There is a lot of sadness in this story.  In the beginning Barley is abused.  In the end he suffers seeing the crucifixion.

For additional reviews visit the Litfuse website.
4647024
Despite all of the praise I heard for The Book of Dun Cow, I still smirked through the first few chapters. It has a great setup for a terrible challenge to the earth, even the galaxy, but the characters are farm animals. How terrifying can a story get with a proud rooster for a leading man? But then if I understood myself properly in relation to the God of heaven and earth and the fatally wounded enemy who still plots our defeat, I may think of mankind in the same way--mere animals standing between the Almighty and the Lord of the Flies.

Let me briefly give you the plot. Chauntecleer, the rooster, is lord over a patch of farmland, field, and forest. He is king and cleric to the animals who live there, crowing canonical blessings throughout the day to give their lives order and spiritual purpose. Far away, another farm and another rooster have slacked off holding the order of the day, giving a profound and powerful evil an opportunity to fight for its freedom. The animals are called Wyrm's Keepers, though I doubt they would recognize the label. By keeping their proper order, they unknowingly keep the evil Wyrm imprisoned, so when one farm has grown tired of the cares of the world, Wyrm exploits his opportunity. Gradually, you might say, all of something breaks loose.

I love most in this story the animals leaning on their daily order, their time-honored tradition. It gave their dirt-scratching, grub-hunting, cleaning, and sleeping greater meaning and consequently greater peace. From Lauds to Compline, Chauntecleer crows through the day, usually because that's how its done, but when their world become overcast with troubling clouds, he crows to bless those creatures he cares for. In a somewhat comical way, it's glorious.

And there's a good bit of comedy throughout the book too. John Wesley Weasel and Mundo Cani Dog are hilarious in their own way as is the rooster's obnoxious pride.

I have to wonder how much of this fantasy is reality. How much or what kind of grace does the Lord give us through liturgy and the mental transformation he calls us to by meditating on his precepts throughout the day? What is robbed from us when we think of our lives and world in secular terms, when we see the planet instead of creation, when we look into space instead of the heavens? Would we keep the evil imprisoned a little more if we gave ourselves and our families lauds and vespers?
1189272
This book is the first I have read that actually gave bible verses concerning animals that you can research yourself. Lovely! Because of this book, a local Pastor gave a teaching sermon in church on the importance of animals in the bible, and how much God cares for them. It was amazing to see the number of people who "read" the bible front to back, but didn't know God made a covenant with all living creatures, and with the earth.
4713686
This book re-tells stories of the Bible that include animals. Even stories that feature animals in very minor roles get full attention here. With just one two-page spread devoted to each, the stories are short, ranging from one to seven sentences.

At the back of the book all of the include stories are listed with Scripture references so that readers may examine the full texts.

The bright illustrations remind me of Paul Gauguin's works. They feature heavy brushstrokes, a stylized technique, and lots of saturated color.

WHAT I LIKE: I like the concept. My son cannot get enough books about animals. He loves them! I greatly appreciate the idea of using his interest in animals to get him more interested in Scripture. The index at the back is a wonderful inclusion. I'm always a fan of books that refer readers back to the source, in this case, specific passages of Scripture.

WHAT I DISLIKE: This book didn't meet my expectations. Based on the book's title, target age range and the summary on the back cover, I expected animal facts and scientific trivia interwoven with Scriptural truths. Instead I got extremely short paraphrases of Bible stories that include animals. This would be fine if done thoroughly, but because the stories are so abbreviated and frequently taken out of context, the meanings behind these stories are lost. The cohesive nature and themes of the Bible are lost. My son (5 years old) was disappointed and became bored very quickly.

OVERALL RATING: I think this book would be fine for younger kids. For the specified age range (4-8), I rate it Ho-Hum. But for younger children (2-5), I rate it Good.

Tanya -- Christian Children's Book Review
1470668
I enjoy this book. There is a lot of information in it and it covers quite a few saints, some of which you may have not heard of before. If you love animals this is a great book to read.
2348220
I found this book delightful.  As a Christian and dog lover, it was comforting to understand the blessings of heaven and to know that God is aware of our need of love from Him, our family and our pets.
2795845
Lilly and her younger brother, Liam, are excited to visit their grandparents and to spend their two-week Christmas vacation with them on the farm. And they've brought many books to read. They see the old familiar White Cow, but not the donkey who had always kept her company in the field. The donkey's owner has taken him back, and White Cow seems lonely and Liam is worried.

Grandma, in order to distract him, tells Liam that cows are not pets. It seems odd that they would keep this one cow and not sell it, like they did their previous herd, if they didn't consider it some kind of pet. And when Liam finds White Cow in the barn, she walks right up to the boy when he calls her and lets him pet her. This is not normal behavior for cows, from my experience anyway.

Liam is correct, however, that cows are social animals who make life-long friends. According, "The Secret Life of Cows", a book available on Amazon, cows can play games, love, hold grudges, and be vain. You can also read about cows' personalities in the books of Temple Grandin, Ph. D., animal husbandry scientist. Cows are her favorite animals, and she describes how that she likes to lie still in the pasture until a curious cow comes over and licks her on the face!

Liam becomes obsessed with getting a cow friend for White Cow, and this leads to a happy twist at the end of the story. He puts many posters up around the town asking for help, and then he convinces his sister to pool all their money and to sell their books in order to buy a calf. The seller's son, Thomas, is relieved; he was crying because the calf was being sold for meat. I hae to wonder how a kid like that could live on a cow ranch without being constantly traumatized by the selling of their cows to be butchered!

I also wonder about how those kids could "pick barberry branches" for their grandma barehanded. Those things are super thorny! And why did Liam bring 37 books that were so easy for him that he could read three of them a day: why doesn't he just get some harder books, on his reading level?

I've read a couple of other books by Patricia MacLachlan, and they were good and memorable. This book is not perfect--it's rather mauldin, and not entirely believable--but it makes a good point: to think about the needs of others, including cows, is the the kind of true gift that Christmas is about.
2530564
The book was a good read for those that are animal lovers and interested in the human/animal bond.  While I don't agree with attempting to domesticate exotic animals, the authors willingness to re-introduce Christian to the wild was a step in the right direction.  The real story lies in the bond that is formed by humans and animals and the impact that has on both.<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/A-Lion-Called-Christian-The-True-Story-of-the-Remarkable-Bond-between-Two-Friends-and-a-Lion/dp/0767932307/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">A Lion Called Christian: The True Story of the Remarkable Bond between Two Friends and a Lion</a>