Book Review: An Unlikely Lent

 Information about the book

An Unlikely Lent: Extraordinary People of the Easter Story by Rachel Billups. Published by Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2025. It is available from Amazon and Cokesbury, plus other retailers.

Summary

From Amazon: The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are at the heart of the story of Easter. But the resurrection was not witnessed in isolation; it unfolded before a crowd. What might the stories of those women and men teach us today? How will they help us step into the story of Easter? Here, we can see what has been overlooked, not just in the grand moments but in the in-between: the silence, the side characters, and the questions.

Impressions

I found this to be an excellent study for Lent. Each chapter is focused on a different person or group of people in the Easter story, including Mary of Bethany, the servant girl near Peter when Jesus was on trial, Barabbas, Simon of Cyrene, the women at the cross, and Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. I thought each chapter provide fresh insights into the person being studied as well as personal illustrations from the author. I highly recommend this book.

Posts about book

Link to posts on blog at Billups Lent

Book Review: Between a Rock and a Holy Place

Information about the book

Between a Rock and a Holy Place by Thomas Patrick Nolan.  Published by Archway Publishing in 2025.  Available as a paperback, audiobook, or e-book (Kindle).  Amazon link.

Summary

From Amazon: Sermons and stories of faith, hope, and love from the heart of a friend and follower of Jesus. With humor and grace, these simple but profound writings will lead you into the presence of One whose word brings healing and hope to longing hearts.

Impressions

This book is a collection of about 36 sermons written by an elder in the West Virginia Annual Conference.  Tom is currently a retried elder who attends my church, and I've heard him preach several times. He's a fantastic preacher, and you can hear his words as you read the sermons. I wish I had seen the audiobook prior to reading the book - I might have chosen to listen to them instead of read them.

The sermons are divided among the liturgical year, beginning with advent and continuing through Pentecost. I started reading the book in December. When I finished the Christmas sermons, I set it aside, thinking I would pick it up during each season and read the sermons at a liturgically appropriate time; however, once I started reading again near Lent, I just continued it until I finished. I didn't want to stop and wait until after Easter to continue. The book works well for a devotional time - read one sermon a day to give yourself time to consider the words throughout your schedule.

Tom's sermons are very engaging, full of excellent illustrations that lead you through and to a deep message. I rated this book five stars and would highly recommend it to you.

Posts about book

To see posts I read that were inspired by this book, explore the tag Nolan Holy Place on my blog.

 

Book Review: Voices of Advent

Information about the book

Voices of Advent: The Bible's Insights for a Season of Hope by Matthew L. Skinner. Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN. 2025. Cokesbury Amazon

Summary

From Amazon: In Voices of Advent, Matthew L. Skinner leads readers through biblical texts and explores how they shape our lives and Christmas celebrations. We listen as Jesus promises to return to us in the future, to John the Baptist as he prepares the way for the Messiah, to the faithful people and poets who anticipate the magnificence of Jesus’s birth, and to the angels and visionaries who praise God when Christmas dawns. Listen carefully to the Bible’s various perspectives that shape our preparations for Christmas; you’ll hear hope in all of them. Voices of Advent helps readers experience Advent not only as the start of the Christian Church Year, but also as the powerful overture that sets the tone for the incredible story of Jesus

Also available are a Leader Guide and DVD.

Impressions

The book contains an Introduction, four chapters (outlined above in the blurb from Amazon), and an Afterward. Each chapter explores at least two or three scriptures. The chapters begins with an introduction and then a focus on each passage.

I read this book because my church was using it as an Advent study. I couldn't attend the study, but decided to participate in my own way by reading the book. I found it to be insightful and well-written, and I would recommend it.

Posts about book

Skinner Voices

 

Book Review: Gather us In

Information about the book

Gather Us In: Leading Transformational Small Groups by Angela D. Schaffner.  Upper Room Books. Nashville, TN.  2020.  Amazon

Summary

From Amazon: This comprehensive guide to leading small groups provides eight strategies for leading transformative small groups, dispels common myths about leading groups, and helps readers understand how groups work and the life stages of a group. The author suggests practical ways to lead groups effectively, using examples from scripture of how Jesus worked to transform people spiritually and emotionally.

Impressions

I had invited a pastor in our conference to join the CLM class for an evening to speak about small groups. I often use an interview format for those guest speakers, so I needed to provide him with the questions I would ask. I had no idea what kind of questions to ask, so I did what I usually do and found a book to read.

This book was OK, although not outstanding.  I felt like the advice was particularly targeted towards those who needed advice regarding how to run a group that feels like a therapy group. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but it did slant the book in a particular direction. I think this book could be one of many to provide resources for a person leading a group, and it would give good advice. That said, I think the person leading the group or starting a small group ministry would benefit from a variety of sources - not just this one.

In a future post, I'll provide a list of resources our guest speaker suggested.

Book Review: The Mission Always Wins

 

Information about the book

The Mission Always Winds: Quit Appeasing Stakeholders by Tod Bolsinger.  Intervarsity Press. Downers Grove, Illinois. 2024

Summary

From Amazon: Every organization faces pivotal moments that can either blur their vision or strengthen their resolve. Through insightful storytelling, engaging illustrations, and practical exercises, Bolsinger helps you cut through the noise to hone in on what truly matters—your mission. The Mission Always Wins isn't just about theory; it's packed with real-life case studies and actionable advice, so you can foster alignment and purpose within your team. The Mission Always Wins is your go-to guide for learning to navigate the choppy waters of organizational change with precision and purpose.

Impressions

This is one of a series of four books in Bolsinger's Practicing Change Series.  In a world where we often strive for win-win situations, attempt to please everyone, and placate those who are invested in what we are doing, this book reminds us that the mission should always win. Every. Time.

Here are some quotes:

• At those times, the desire to find a win-win solution was not actually a solution to a real problem but a way that leaders unconsciously tried to lower the conflict of the moment.
• Every time, in every decision, the key question is: Does it further our mission?
• [A mission statement is] a clear purpose and reason for being that comes out of the core values and summaries the core ideology of the organization.  It captures what endures and the specific conditions the organization faces. It is not something that is change slightly, but it is also not something that is etched in stone.

I liked this book, and would recommend it.

Book Review: The Message of Jesus

 Information about the book

The Message of Jesus: Words that hanged the World by Adam Hamilton.  Abingdon Press. Nashville.  2024.

Summary

From Amazon: More than 3 billion people claim to follow Jesus. But aside from a few verses, how many actually know what he taught? In fact, much of what people think Jesus taught, he never said. 

In this six-week study, pastor and best-selling author Adam Hamilton explores six of the most important themes in Jesus's teachings, why they matter, and how they speak to us today. The book will explore Jesus’s preaching on the Kingdom of God, the Sermon on the Mount, the parables, the “I am” sayings in John, and more. Jesus's message is not only life-changing, but world-changing. Join Adam Hamilton in studying The Message of Jesus: Words That Changed the World. 

Other components for the study include a leader guide, teaching videos, and sermons and worship.

Impressions

The book is divided into six chapter which makes it easy to adapt to a Lenten study.  The structure flows from the kingdom of God, the beatitudes, parables, I AM statements, final words, and post-resurrection messages.

As usual, Hamilton's writing is engaging. I enjoyed reading it and encountered several "ah ha" moments.  I particularly enjoyed the chapter about the Kingdom of God.  He quotes Gordon Fee: "You cannot know anything about Jesus, anything, if you miss the kingdom of God... You are zero on Jesus if you don't understand this term.  I'm sorry to say it that strongly but this is the great failure of evangelical Christianity.  We have had Jesus without the kingdom of God, and therefore have literally one Jesus in."

A few more quotes from Hamilton:

• "When we pray the Lord's Prayer, we say, "Thy kingdom come, They will be done." And every time we say The or Thine, instead of my and mine, we are yielding our lives and our will to God. That is the essence of life in the Kingdom."
• "We are to love our neighbor, to love our enemies, and to love one another. This is the defining mark of the Christian life. It is not a feeling, but a way of living and being."
• "The challenge is that often the most vocal Christians seem also to be the least loving some of them seem more interested in using Jesus to further their causes, than in Jesus using them to further his causes."
• "I believe the death of Christ is less like a judicial transaction, and more like poetry.  It is a word from God about human brokenness and sin and the lengths to which God will go to heal and forgive us...."

I would recommend this book.

Book Review: How not to Waste a Crisis

Information about the book

How Not to Waste a Crisis: Quite Trying Harder by Tod Bolsinger.  Intervarsity Press. Downers Grove, Illinois. 2024

Summary

From Amazon: In a world where crises seem to be the new normal, leadership that adapts is more vital than ever. In his new book How Not to Waste a Crisis bestselling Tod Bolsinger offers a refreshing perspective on turning chaos into opportunity. Unlike a typical leadership book, How Not to Waste a Crisis is an invitation to rethink and redefine your approach to leadership in times of upheaval. What sets How Not to Waste a Crisis apart is its vibrant storytelling, engaging illustrations, and practical exercises. Each chapter brings to life real-world examples and transforms complex concepts into digestible insights.

Impressions

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have been looking for something to replace one of the books I ask the CLM class to read. At first, I thought I would use Tempered Resilience (review here).  I really liked that book and would recommend it, but it is longer than other books I ask the class to read, and more detailed.  A Conference staff person (Ken) mentioned this series by the same author, so I ordered Leading Through Resistance and this book, How Not to Waste a Crisis, both part of Bolsinger's Practicing Change series. (There are two others in the series I have not read).

This is a shorter book focused on helping to lead people through a crisis - and admitting that you don't know how to do that. It's about learning in the midst of crisis instead of bringing your expertise and talents (which won't work in the crisis) to the table.  It's about ending your expert status and inviting others to join you in finding a solution through experimentation.

I liked this book, and would recommend it.

Book Review: Tempered Resilience

 Information about the book

Tempered Resilience: How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change by Tod Bolsinger.  IVP, 2020.

Summary

This books leads the reader through the characteristics and needs of a leader who is leading through adaptive change. Adaptive change is that kind of change for which we have no precedent - we don't know how to solve the problems, and our usual methods for problem solving don't work well.  How do you lead a congregation through that kind of change? How do you change so that you can be that kind of leader?

Impressions

I liked this book from the moment I started reading it. The author is a Presbyterian minister, so his examples include incidences from his own experience as a church leader as well as biblical scriptures. He uses the process of steel-working to make his examples concrete.

I like that his theses and writings strike me as common sense - not easily instituted, but reasonable and not cliché. 

A few quotes:

• Leadership therefore is always about the transformation and growth of a people - starting with the leader - to develop the resilience and adaptive capacity to wisely cut through resistance and accomplish the mission of the group.  (pg 4).
• People do not resist change, per se. People resist loss.  You appear dangerous to people when you question their values, beliefs, or habits of a lifetime. (pg 22)
• While the nomenclature varies, the characteristics of transformational spiritual leaders and organizational change leaders make up a list of attributes for a tempered resilient leader: one that is grounded, teachable, attuned, adaptable, and tenacious.

I recommend this book.

Posts about book

Find my posts about the book with the tag Bolsinger Tempered.

Book Review: Reading the New Testament as Christian Scripture

Information about the book

Reading the New Testament as Christian Scripture by Constantine R. Campbell and Jonathan T. Pennington.  Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2020.  Cokesbury / Amazon

Summary

From Amazon: This survey textbook by two respected New Testament scholars is designed to meet the needs of contemporary evangelical undergraduates. The book effectively covers the New Testament books and major topics in the New Testament, assuming no prior academic study of the Bible. The authors pay attention to how the New Testament documents fit together as a canonical whole that supplements the Old Testament to make up the Christian Scriptures. They also show how the New Testament writings provide basic material for Christian doctrine, spirituality, and engagement with culture. Chapters can be assigned in any order, making this an ideal textbook for one-semester courses at evangelical schools.

Impressions

I purchased this book and read assigned chapters for a class I took from BeADisciple.  The class was called Reading the New Testament with Fresh Eyes - I'll be posting a class review soon. This text was a required purchase.

It is organized into 30 chapters.  The first 5 and the last one are general chapters covering background information that is helpful as one reads through the New Testament.  The middle 24 chapters are each written around one or more New Testament Chapters.

I found the information to be well presented and helpful in the work we were doing, and I imagine that it will be a resource to which I will return when preparing a bible study or sermon. I recommend it.

Posts about book

Find my posts about the book

Book Review: Luke by Adam Hamilton

 

Information about the book

Luke: Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts, and Outlaws. by Adam Hamilton. Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2022.  Cokesbury / Amazon

Summary

From Amazon: In Luke: Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts, and Outlaws, pastor and bestselling author Adam Hamilton explores the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus as told in the Gospel of Luke. Through Luke’s stories we find Jesus’ care and compassion for all as he welcomes sinners and outcasts. As we study Luke and see Jesus’ concern for those who were considered unimportant, we hear a hopeful and inspiring word for our lives today.The book can be read alone or used for a group study and church-wide Lenten program. Additional components include video teaching sessions featuring Adam Hamilton, a comprehensive leader guide, free downloadable resources for children and youth, and a digital worship and sermon helps. The book includes a link to download the free teaching resources for children and youth.

Impressions

My initial plan was to read this book one chapter a week while tandem reading the Gospel of Luke. I found that I read it much faster than a chapter a week, and I did not read the Gospel of Luke with it. (Side Note - I did, a week or two later, complete the reading of the Gospel for a class I was taking, so it did work out).  There is reading plan you can download to go with the book at this link.

I liked the book and would recommend it. Each chapter focuses on a few chapters from the Gospel, leading the reader through the book of Luke.  The focus is - as the title suggests - on the outcast.  Reading this book inspired several blog posts (linked below).

I think this book would be a very appropriate source for a Lenten Study; I think its structure and topic would lend themselves to this type of group work. In addition to the book itself, there are several resources that would be helpful.

Posts about book

Find my posts about the book at this link.

Book Review: All the Good

Information about the book

All the Good: A Wesleyan Way of Christmas by Laceye Warner, Amy Valdez Barker, Jung Choir, and Sangwoo Kim.  Abingdon Press. Nashville. 2021. (Amazon)

Summary

From Amazon:  "In All the Good: A Wesleyan Way of Christmas, a group of diverse Wesleyan scholars will take you on an Advent journey guided by the practices in John Wesley’s means of grace. John Wesley’s emphasis upon practices of piety and mercy―or good works―drew from the larger Christian tradition. Such practices are often referred to as means of grace.

Each chapter guides participants through one of the four weeks of Advent by reflecting on biblical passages in light of an aspect of Wesleyan means of grace highlighted by illustrations and stories. Readers will look at preparing the way for God, the impact and significance of prayer, the substance of good works and caring for others, and sharing God’s mission to the world."

Impressions

This book works well as an Advent study. It is written well, and I imagine (although I have not seen them) that the accompanying leader guide and DVD would be helpful in planning a group study. Our church used this book this year as an Advent book resource, although I was not able to attend (the sessions were held while I was at work). I decided to pick up and book and read it on my own as the group at church was reading it.

Each chapter highlights an aspect of faith with a Wesleyan emphasis. These include preparing the way, prayer, acts of mercy, and outreach to the world. Each chapter is written by a different author and thus has a different style and "feel." I especially found the chapter on prayer to be not only well written but also illuminating.  There were lots of "ah ha" moments for me in the prayer chapter.  I found chapters 3 and 4 to be less engaging, although I did enjoy the personal stories and Wesleyan connections that were presented.

I would recommend the book (although it's not a the top of my Advent recommendations).

Posts about book

Posts I wrote about the book are tagged with Warner Good

Book Review: Road to Wisdom

 Information about the book

Collins, Francis S.  The Road to Wisdom: On Truth, Science, Faith, and Trust,  Little, Brown, and Company. New York. 2024. (Amazon)

Summary

From Amazon: "As the COVID-19 pandemic revealed, we have become not just a hyper-partisan society but also a deeply cynical one, distrustful of traditional sources of knowledge and wisdom. Skepticism about vaccines led to the needless deaths of at least 230,000 Americans. “Do your own research” is now a rallying cry in many online rabbit holes. Yet experts can make mistakes, and institutions can lose their moral compass. So how can we navigate through all this?

In The Road to Wisdom, Francis Collins reminds us of the four core sources of judgement and clear thinking: truth, science, faith, and trust. Drawing on his work from the Human Genome Project and heading the National Institutes of Health, as well as on ethics, philosophy, and Christian theology, Collins makes a robust, thoughtful case for each of these sources—their reliability, and their limits. Ultimately, he shows how they work together, not separately—and certainly not in conflict. Dr. Francis Collins was the head of the Human Genome Project, and is a world-leading scientist.  He is also a person of faith.  From the back cover of the book: "Dr. Collins believes that faith in God and faith in science can coexist within a person and be harmonious.  In The Language of God he makes his case for God and for science."

Impressions

My pastor, in a sermon, mentioned this book. She had seen Francis Collins interviewed on the The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (interesting interview). I was in the middle of the Religion and Science class and had read The Language of God by Francis Collins this summer.

I enjoyed the book. I especially found the chapter that talks about truth to be interesting - truth as concentric circles.  I don't think I've written a post about it, but I should.  As I mentioned, I read The Language of God prior to the Religion and Science class - in some ways, I think this book would have been a better prequel to the class - impossible for me, since it came out int eh middle of the class, but for future reference....

I would recommend this book.

Posts about book

Collins Road

Book Review: The Gospel of Mark

Information about the book

Amy Jill Levine. The Gospel of Mark: A Beginner's Guide to the Good News.  Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2023. Cokesbury / Amazon.  Leader's Guide

Summary

From Amazon: Walk through the Bible’s earliest source for the life of Jesus with scholar Amy-Jill Levine as she examines John the Baptizer, the Little Apocalypse, the Transfiguration, and several of Jesus's most notable stories and parables. The Good News of the gospel message comes alive in this book as readers see Jesus as divine and human, powerful and weak, approachable yet mysterious. The book features an in-depth study of select passages and illuminates the Gospel in its historical context and as a source for the other gospels.

Impressions

I have read other Amy-Jill Levine books, and I always find them eye-opening. Her thoughts and writing open new pathways for me and provide new ways to see God's word in scripture.  She describes herself as "an unorthodox member of an Orthodox synagogue..." One of the gifts she brings to her scholarship is a Jewish background. Her writing often (rightly) challenges our anti-Jewish assumptions about the scripture.

In this look at Mark, I especially appreciated how Levine brings us along through her exploration of the scripture. She is expertly searching for Mark's purposes in the Gospel and how it impacts our reading and understanding of the Word (something we should always do). She often shared multiple options for interpretation, and why each one rings true for her or not.

I highly recommend this book and will be adding other Levine books to my TBR.

Posts about book

Posts about this book are tagged with Levine Mark.

Book Review: The Language of God

 Information about the book

Collins, Francis S.  The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief.  Simon and Schuster, Inc. New York. 2006.  Amazon

Summary

Dr. Francis Collins was the head of the Human Genome Project, and is a world-leading scientist.  He is also a person of faith.  From the back cover of the book: "Dr. Collins believes that faith in God and faith in science can coexist within a person and be harmonious.  In The Language of God he makes his case for God and for science."

Impressions

As a person who worked for 20 years in medical research and who has a Masters degree in biology, and as a person who now works in a religiously affiliated nonprofit, the subject of this book was very interesting to me.  In addition, I have registered for the BeADisciple.com course called Religion and Science: Pathways to Truth.  This book is written by the host of the course, so I thought it would be an excellent companion book to read.

I found the book to be engaging - it was easy to want to continue reading. Dr. Collins discusses his own faith journey, questions regarding human existence, and then writes about atheism, agnosticism, creationism, intelligent design, and biologos in a way that helps the reader to evaluate each in light of their scientific truth and their spiritual truth. His thesis is that one can see science as an expression of God's creativity, and can therefore accept the truth of science and be a person of faith.

I enjoyed the book, and would recommend it.

Posts about book

Collins Language

Book Review: Be Determined

 Information about the book

Wiersbe, Warren W. Be Determined (Nehemiah): Standing Firm in the Face of Opposition. David C. Cook. Colorado Springs, Colorado. 2009.

Summary

From Amazon: Warren Wiersbe unwraps the book of Nehemiah in his study Be Determined to show a servant so selfless, a mission so humbling, and a perseverance so admirable that Christians are drawn to a new awe of God.  As the leader God calls to mobilize and equip His people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah was a man who didn't know the word no when it came to God's economy.

The book is a chapter by chapter look at the book of Nehemiah.

Impressions

I chose to read this book because I am finishing up a Leadership class based on the book of Nehemiah - in fact, each week I’ve been posting a question from the class with my answer.  I thought reading a study of the book as I complete the class would be a good refresher as well as a continuation of my habit of reading a book along with these classes - as an extra.

As of now, I’ve read a little more than 60% of the book.  I’ll come back to this when I have finished, but I didn’t want to lose my thoughts before I had a chance to record them.This book is one in a series of studies - Be Series Commentary.  This one is Be Determined. One of the reasons I chose this book is that the series was recommended to me and to the CLM class. I thought I would give it a sample.

Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be reading any of the others. Don’t get me wrong - there are some gems in this book, but most of the time, I am frustrated by it.  Here are some of the reasons:

• Before I started the class, I read through Nehemiah, and in the class, I’ve been rereading parts of it. No where in the book do I remember seeing a reference to Satan, and yet parts of this book, rather than focusing on Nehemiah or his work, are focused on how the book relates to battling Satan. Not all of it, but parts of it.
• The author uses verses pulled from scripture to support his points - with no connection to their context at all. This can be a dangerous habit, and sometimes it feels as if he is using scriptural references to make his points.
• He never refers to leaders as women (so far).  Leaders are men.
• He relates much of the book to being Christian. Nehemiah isn’t about being Christian, and it seems like a stretch.  In fact much of his application of Nehemiah seems like a stretch.
• He uses Meme worthy points. By this I mean that he makes statements that would seem to be true, because they sound true, and he is so convinced of them, but with some thought, one can see that the statement may be true in some circumstances, but not all.  This author writes in black and white.

My list seems harsh, I know, but it is what is frustrating me about this book. As I said, it does have some wisdom, but for me, it is hard to find it among that which is frustrating. I’m sure this would be good for someone else, and I will finish the book, but probably not read another one.  I think the author missed a truly wonderful opportunity to dig into the Hebrew story of Nehemiah, and to tell us about the scripture we are reading.

Posts about book

Wiersbe Nehemiah

Book Review: A Way Other than Our Own

 Information about the book

A Way Other than our Own: Devotions for Lent by Walter Brueggemann.  Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky, 2016. (Amazon)

Summary

From Amazon: Lent recalls times of wilderness and wandering, from newly freed Hebrew slaves in exile to Jesus' temptation in the desert. God has always called people out of their safe, walled cities into uncomfortable places, revealing paths they would never have chosen. Despite our culture of self-indulgence, we too are called to walk an alternative path - one of humility, justice, and peace. Walter Brueggemann's thought-provoking reflections for the season of Lent invite us to consider the challenging, beautiful life that comes with walking the way of grace.

Impressions

I read this book as a Lenten devotional practice. It is easily managed as a devotion a day, and it written in a way that it will work for any year. 

I found Brueggemann's writing to be interesting and engaging. He is a skilled word craftsman. More than that, though, the devotions were thought-provoking.  I found myself highlighting sentences and re-reading passages in order to soak in every detail.  It is an excellent Lenten resource.

Can the world be different than our own selfish ways would have it to be?

Posts about book

Posts that reference this book (and there are many) have this tag --> Brueggermann Way

Book Review: Preparing for Christmas

Information about the book:  Richard Rohr, O.F.M.  Preparing for Christmas: Daily Meditations for Advent.  Franciscan Media. Cincinnati, Ohio. 2008.

Summary: (From Amazon) “Advent is not about a sentimental waiting for the Baby Jesus,” Richard Rohr asserts. Advent is a time to focus our expectations and anticipation on “the adult Christ, the Cosmic Christ,” who challenges us to empty ourselves, to lose ourselves, to surrender.

Whether you are seeking a moment of tranquility in the midst of a busy holiday season or searching for a deeper connection with your faith, Preparing of Christmas: Daily Mediations for Advent is the perfect compassion. Renowned author and spiritual teacher Richard Rohr provides profound insights and gentle guidance to inspire and uplift as you reflect on the birth of Jesus and the significance of this sacred time.

Impressions: It was the first Monday of Advent, and I was sitting at my desk.  I picked up the devotional book I was reading and realized I wanted something more focused on Advent for the season.  I browsed Amazon, and found this Richard Rohr book.  I downloaded it my kindle, and have been reading one day’s reading each day.  Rohr is profound.  Each day’s reading opened up revelations that could be thought about all day.

Each reading is short, but packed with wisdom.  The book is designed so that it would work for any arrangement of Advent, with extra days in the back to fill in for longer advents. 

This is a great advent devotional book - I would highly recommend it.

Posts about this book will be tagged with Rohr Preparing.

Book Review: John Wesley's Sermons

Information about the book

Outler, Albert C. and Richard P. Heitzenrater. John Wesley's Sermons: An Anthology. Abingdon Press, Nashville. 2010.  Cokesbury. Amazon.

Summary

From the Amazon Description: Adapted from Albert Outler's 4-volume text The Works of John Wesley, this anthology of 50 of Wesley's finest sermons. Arranged chronologically with introductory commentary by Richard Heitzenrater.

Impressions

I chose to read this book in along with two classes from BeADisciple class Methodist Identity:  Beliefs and Methodist Identity: Our Story.  I read sermons (about three a week for each 8 week class) that pertained to the topic each week (for the Beliefs class) and then the rest mainly chronologically for the Our Story Class.  I completed reading the 50 sermons by the end of the second class.

Of course, Wesley preached more than 50 sermons, and I don't have the expertise to tell you if the editor chose the most advantageous 50 to include.  The sermons are arranged chronologically, and cover the entirety of John Wesley's life from early in his ministry through the end of his life. 

I particularly liked the Introductory Comments that the editor included.  These introductions were short - about a page each - but they set the stage for the sermon, place it in context in Wesley's work, and helped me to identify themes throughout the sermon.

I would recommend this book to someone who would like to explore Wesley's work.  I would add that all of Wesley's sermons are now available online at this link.

Link: Wesley Sermons

 

Book Review: Wesley and the People Called Methodists

Information about the book

Richard P. Heitzenrater. Wesley and the People Called Methodists, Second Edition. Abingdon Press, Nashville. 2013.  Cokesbury. Amazon.

Summary

From the Amazon Description: This second edition of Richard P. Heitzenrater's groundbreaking survey of the Wesleyan movement is the story of the many people who contributed to the theology, organization, and mission of Methodism. This updated version addresses recent research from the past twenty years; includes an extensive bibliography; and fleshes out such topics as the means of grace; Conference: "Large" Minutes: Charles Wesley: Wesley and America; ordination; prison ministry; apostolic church; music; children; Susanna and Samuel Wesley; the Christian library; itinerancy; connectionalism; doctrinal standards; and John Wesley as historian, Oxford don, and preacher.

This book is a very detailed review of the early years (1700s) of Methodism. It focuses on John and Charles Wesley and the people and activities around them through Wesley's death.

Impressions

I read this book in preparation for the BeADisciple class Methodist Identity: Our Story.  I have found that my "investing" my reading time in a reference book related to the class that my experience of the class is greatly enhanced.  I read this one before the class started, over the summer months.  I found it to be very detailed, well organized, and actually, if not an easy read, then also not a difficult read.

I found the following aspects of the book to be particularly interesting:

1. The first section reviewed the English Reformation and the Church in England.  I have never considered how this would influence the development of Methodism and the Wesleys themselves. 
2. I was particularly interested in watching how Wesley's faith and viewpoint matured over his lifetime. It was definitely not a stagnant faith. It grew and matured.
3. John (and Charles) Wesley's idea that they weren't Christian until they experienced assurance of God's love and forgiveness was - well - a shocker.
4. I appreciated watching the dynamic of "will we or won't we" break away from the Anglican Church.
5. In general, reading about how Methodism grew and changed was very interesting to me.

I would recommend this book to someone who would like to take a deep dive into the origins on Methodism during John Wesley's life.

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Information about the book

Unlacing the Heart: Connecting with What Really Matters by Henry B. Freeman. John's Press. North Carolina. 2015 (Amazon)

Summary

From Amazon: Unlacing the Heart is a book of true-life stories that capture moments of deep personal connection between people living very different lives. Of Alfredo, a homeless man who invited Henry Freeman into his life; of Jane, a Yale student who needed help coming out from under the burden of a high society family; of Sister Margaret, a Franciscan nun who joyfully shared her gift for uncovering the good in people we often fear and hate; of Mary, a person trapped in the body of a bag lady with only one true friend; and of an elderly woman also named Margaret who found in a meal of Omaha steak and asparagus a safe space to share her joys, her fears and the news of her pending death. Henry Freeman shares with us a rare gift that extends far beyond his professional expertise as a fundraising consultant. It is a gift he, a Quaker, received from his mentor and friend Henri Nouwen, an author and Catholic theologian whose writings on spirituality and the human condition touch the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Indeed, the author’s most powerful stories—the ones that lead readers on an inner journey and exploration of their own vulnerable spaces—reflect the presence of Nouwen in the author’s life and the words he shares in this book’s pages.

Impressions

Chapter 5 of this book, "Steak and Asparagus with Margaret" was one of my reading assignments for the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising.  I read the chapter for the class and then went back and read the rest of the book.  Chapter 5 was particularly useful in understanding fundraising and its spiritual nature.

The book is a series of stories told from the experience of Henry Freeman, a fundraising consultant.  It is a vulnerable look at his work, including his time-off to live for a year in an orphanage in El Salvador. I appreciated his stories of his friendship with Henri Nouwen and how Nouwen has influenced his work.

I would recommend this book.  It isn't my favorite book related to the field, but its vulnerability, stories, and connection to spirituality are all positive aspects of the writing.

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