Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Never in a million years did I expect to be watching this movie, never in a million years. It just goes to show, "never say never," the next thing you know the very thing you never say never to, can happen to you. The way I see it, saying never is right up there with willing things for yourself... and sometimes God has a different plan that you do. This is how I felt when this movie was assigned as part of our film class. We would be watching this film for educational purposes, to analyze it discern what messages it had for the audiences... and we were warned, it would be subtle.

Subtle indeed is the witchcraft in the film, as one is transported into a sort of Narnia where witchcraft is abundant and considered quite normal. Yes, it's a place where witchcraft is quite normal, a kid even goes to school to learn their craft. It all fantasy, fantastical like the world of Oz, spells and magic much like the classic tales of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, right?

Quite frankly, after hearing all the scuttlebutt for years about the horrors of Harry Potter in the minds of children, I was surprised I did not find the whole thing to be much more offensive. And after viewing it, I would say it was much like many other make-believe stories... like Wizard of Oz, Narnia, and Sleeping Beauty, it is a movie in which the element of magic and witchcraft was definitely there. Much like these other stories we can see it separated out as being used for both the evil side and for the good. This all has me wondering just a bit, what it is that makes Harry Potter so much different then the rest.

Take a look at Harry the Hero. He is humble... courageous and before your eyes you see kids ho want to do well in "school" and who are willing to sacrifice themselves for one another. You see honesty and integrity rewarded, dishonesty condemned. Harry, not only loves his parents whom he has never met, but he has all the makings of a "hero," he even resists the evil forces and defeats them. It's obvious, the world of real witchcraft and magic, is not Harry Potter's world.

So, what can be wrong with all of that?

Me thinks the problem is quite subtle. You see, Harry Potter is the hero...a nd now all the little boys and girls want to be heroic like Harry too. They all want to emulate him, learn the things that he did, even venture out into the forbidden places they are told they are not to go, because that is what this hero did. They now see nothing wrong with being or wanting to be a wizard or a witch, especially if such a thing can be used to produce good.

The mean "muggles..." (as presented in the movie) believe that witchcraft is bad or evil... but the movie and the hero, just proved to them it is not. Now, having no idea what exactly they may be getting into when they playfully learn all the ins and outs of "magic," when they emulate their hero, wear black hats and draw pentagrams or maybe even cat some spells, because they love an imaginary hero... they obviously venture forth unafraid or unaware, into something God has clearly warned about, perhaps even something their own muggles do not like, or prefer to keep "hush-hush" about.

I tend to think the degree to which a person loves or hates this movie is multidimensional. I think a great part of it hinges upon how one views the literalness of the Word of God, particularly in regards to the issue of witchcraft and magic.

A couple of observations are:
Harry's Name

Now, what does hair mean is the scripture. Samson was Hairy.... and God is the potter, we are the clay. So what is with the name.. Harry Potter. What kind of a hero is he?

I note that his name is known everywhere. The script to the movie relates that he is even prophesied about... "This boy will be famous. There won't be a child in our world who doesn't know his name."

In the movie, drinking the blood of a unicorn is a "monstrous" thing to do, "only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a crime. The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenceless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips." Voldemort, the "bad guy" does this.

Strangely and perhaps to no particular reasoning, I related this to Jesus, the pure and holy one being slain for our sins.. and saying, you must eat my flesh and drink my blood...

I wondered why Voldermort the bad guy, does this,, and why the blood of the unicorn is so powerful... and yet a curse... I wonder if Christian children make the connection too, as they maybe make their first holy communion, or hear about how the blood of Jesus saves and partake in the blood of the lamb, believing that through JEsus Christ, the sinless one of God who was slain for our transgression , for their salvation.

Children learn in the movie, how to tell if a person is a wizard, or has magic capabilities. In fact Harry is a wizard and he can know this is true if " things happen that you cannot explain when you are angry or scared."

Other interesting things to note in the presentation...

Wizards like Harry can talk to animals... snakes in particular

The sorcerers stone is guarded by a three headed dog

Harry gets to be a "seeker."

When the children are in the "devils snare..." (caught in a strangling plant) all they have to do is relax to escape. (I likened this to maybe resting in Jesus, but ask, "why would you rest in the devil's snare.") One boy does not relaz and magic is done to create sunlight, the sunlight shines on the devil's snare and the boy escapes. Devil's snare hates son light,, oopps I mean sunlight.

Aside from the various spiritual dynamics, which are rather hard to truely discern, Harry Potter is a painfully childish kid's adventure movie that has gruesome elements but portrays some of the "good character qualities" we would like kids to pursue. On the surface it can be a seemingly harmless film with good morals and values, and it is hard to really find fault with a film that is like so many other films, unless of course you are convinced in your own mind that witchcraft is evil.

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive The Bus!

Have you met the pigeon yet?
My girls (Heather and Bethany and I are always looking for fun books. This one is one that Heather found at a garage sale and showed to us. If you love pigeons, like birds or even like humor, this is it. This book is too funny! Not only that, consider it rather amusing that it has won the prestigious Caldecott Award... given for... (look at the cover) ART!

That is kinda funny too.

Okay so there is a pigeon, a bus and bus driver and the bus driver says, "Whatever you do, do not let the pigeon drive the bus." The pigeon does everything possible to get the reader to let him drive the bus, but being obedient to the bus driver and knowing that pigeons cannot drive buses we cannot help but get him to do what the bus driver said, and we do not let him do it. Try as he might, ... and he does try, very hard.

Why this book won the art award I do not know. If the book is good for toddlers to read and learn how to be a nuisance or why their mommies and daddies do not give in when they behave like the pigeon.. I do not know, I just know it is rather amusing.... and so, I mention it here on this blog.

And, if you do have this book, or simply find it at some yard sale someday, whatever you do, do not give in...
"Do not let the naughty, whiny pigeon drive the bus!"

The City and The City

I recently read a very intriguing book – The City & The City by China Mieville, published by Del Rey/Ballantine Books – which unfortunately I cannot freely recommend.

Basic premise: two physical cities occupy the same location, but due to reasons lost in the past the citizens of each city are ‘unable’ to see the other city. When a crime is committed that breaches that boundary between cities, our hero, Inspector Tyador Borlú, not only solves the crime, but also explores, at great cost to himself, what the actual boundary is and what it really means to breach that boundary.

This is a book about perceptions, about voluntary blindness, about what happens when we choose to create our own reality. It also explores the idea of us vs. them, and what happens when the boundaries separating us & them are breached. In recent months the Lord has had me meditating on perception vs. reality; this book was timely in prodding along my reluctant journey in that direction. It also provoked several great discussions with my dh about the roles – both legitimate and destructive – that boundaries serve in our lives.

My reservation in actually recommending The City and The City is due to Mieville’s extreme use of gratuitous swearing. Neither the author nor the characters are believers, and the book revolves around the seamy side of the crime world, so some swearing would perhaps not be unexpected. Because Mieville’s curse words of choice do not include taking the Lord’s name in vain (something I just can’t stomach!), I was able to gloss over the liberal cursing as I read. However, I deeply regret the excessive swearing, as it renders an intriguing and possibly valuable book into a near miss.

Knock, knock, knock, anyone home? Or are you all holed up in your houses plowing through Veiled Freedom? Just wait till you get to the end!! Amazing.

Fiddler on the Roof (Movie)

This film is about a poor Jewish milkman in Russia who is forced to deal with the unconventional marriages of three of his five daughters and the changing politics under Soviet czarist rule.

We watched this for our film class recently, but it's a movie I have seen before. It has been out since 1971. I will admit, I never actually thought about "reporting" on it or much of any other book or movie, I never thought much about writing reviews or reports on books and movies myself until recently. Usually, I read reports and reviews my kids write, or that I see in the paper or magazine, but is new to me to not only write such things, but to think about what I viewed enough to write about it, and to post them for someone else to read.

We have always loved this movie, which is a musical. We love the songs, the photography and the fiddle too. Also we have always also enjoyed both the Jewish aspect of the film with all it's references to "God. " It's a long movie though, almost too long, but most enjoyable.

It was timely to watch it too, as the Broadway version just visited Spokane with the original actor who played the part of Tevye, (Topol) playing the role he did long ago on stage. I didn't go, thought I do like theater, and I wondered how long the staged version was compared to the movie. It is definitely a popular work; it's message time enduring. As I watched the highly acclaimed, award winning film this time, I took a deeper look at what was being presented to the masses of people who have watched this film, or seen the Broadway show, over the years.

What was/is the message?

First, let me mention here that we watched the film for our (incredibly interesting) worldview class, and I can tell you it is full of the concept of deism, (God is not personal) but more noticeable than that, (and you probably already know this if you have seen it) the message is one of "change," the theme could even be "love" or the evilness and injustice of religious "intolerance."

We see the sadness of poverty, homelessness and unjust suffering due to violence of the soldiers, we witness the religious faith of a Jewish man, his struggle with doubt, his personal struggle to hold on to "tradition" in times of change. We are privileged to hear his candid conversations with God, and watch as he accepts God's lot for his life, his existence. From this aspect it's an endearing film. But, on the other hand.... I could not help but hear also another message.

This other message is two-fold, first, it is something to the effect of:"Children, you have your own life to live, a better life than that of your parents, and you obviously know so much better than your parents do, See..., their traditions are such that they do not even understand "love," (but you do.) Go ahead you Jews, marry who you want to, marry outside your religion, (?priest?... ?rabbi?.. they are all the same,) Do what you want to in life, follow your dreams... be willing to fight for and embrace "change." And to Jews and to parents,it's something to the effect of:"Your exclusive, useless religion and traditions is killing you, it is your useless tradition and the God of your tradition, who is not even answering your prayers, that causes you problems... poverty, (If I were a rich man) and as you can see, homelessness. Embrace change and do away with your old outmoded useless tradition."


(The message is also that there is more to life than the "good book" says, for we observe that Newspapers are being read for information, but the old Jewish Rabbi, insists to them that the Good Book is the only stories that they really need. )

The "good book" is of course, the Bible (in this case the Torah, or old testament) and the main character, Tevye is a man who believes in God; though he he doesn't really know his "Good Book," very well... he likes to quote it; "As the good book says,..."

We like him a lot as the audience because he is very much like most of us and he confides in us. We even sympathize with him a bit because like him perhaps we have our struggles, even maybe, we doubt God and get our bible heroes and examples confused. Perhaps like him too, we wish we were rich, but we are not, and feel like we too are in a bit of a rut. Perhaps are a lot like Tevya too, just following our own religious "tradition," clinging to something outmoded and outdated, as the world around us changes.


I kinda wondered as I viewed it, if and how messages like this influence the masses of people caught up in the emotional aspect of the film. After attaching ourselves to the characters and their plights, what we do when change is all around us? What useless religious traditions will we ultimately hang on to, what new ideas and religion will we embrace? (Note: the Jewish mothers goes to the Christian "priest" who is an old white haired sage like her own rabbi...for answers) Perhaps more importantly, how wise and worthy do we perceive some of the words of wisdom, in the film, particularly the ones that make us smile?

Great film! Pretty pictures and likable characters too. I just wonder about the message of a deistic sort of God, and the injustices and intolerances people like the Jews seem to have toward "change."

Here is an interesting study guide on the movie that I found on the internet... One I would consider useful for examining the film's elements. It is for Chinese students who are learning English and found at http://www.krigline.com/Fiddler.htm

Veiled Freedom

Oh my goodness! This was a fantastic book. Some Christian novels are just "christian" because someone loves someone, they get saved in the end, so tu duu! they can get married. This is such a good book and you will learn some of the differences between Muslim and Christian thought.
So it is set in Afghanistan, probably about now. It is a young lady there helping a small organization serve the ladies and kids that are destitute. There is also a security guy who is supposed to be guarding one of the top leaders. I dont want to tell you more because it really is a good book. Suspenceful, interesting, cultural, and you will pretty much understand what in the world is going on in Afghanistan. Any high school homeschooler would love this book, and learn a lot! Call it social studies! Anyway I got it in the 14 day loan area of my public library. It is by J.M. Windle.
One important thing, you need to read the Prologue. It is a little confusing, but read it anyway. I cant wait to see how you like this book! I was so excited to share it with you. Delightful!

Beauty and the Beast (Movie)

The story began, "Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young prince lived in a shining castle. Although he had everything his heart desired, the prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind. But then, one winter's night, an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold..."

This is a timeless tale! (It's probably as old as Europe.) You probably already know the story, maybe even have seen the movie a time or two, but since I did watch this movie lately for a film class that Nate and I are involved in, (one where we have to watch movies, and this movie was one of them,) I thought I would give it a review.

We watched the Disney version... the one made in 1991. You might remember that the film was nominated for best picture, which was a "Hollywood first" since it was animated. You can get a bit of a refresher here on you tube if you need a bit of one. Also, if you remember, the film was nominated for Best Picture, which was a Hollywood "first," this because it was animated. It also won two Oscars as well as other awards, so it's a movie with a lot of mass appeal. It was rated G, for general audiences so you can bet a lot of kids have seen it, but it did have some rather scary parts which I thought should make it quite frightful for young kids.

It was fun discussing this film with a group, talking about it's elements and the message it presents to the viewers. It was decided that this film has a bit of a Christian worldview portrayed to the audience as well as some positive elements and here are some of the things I found particularly interesting.

First of all it's a very artistic and entertaining film with a Phillipeans 4:8 type of goodness to it. There are indeed some lovely, praiseworthy, virtuous things to consider as one watches this film. A humble, yet beautiful young girl who is charming and witty, loves learning and loves books, loves her daddy, and doesn't buy into the lies of conceited men like Gustav and knows how to put them in their place politely is to say the least, quite admirable.

The overriding theme is a message of the transforming power of love which I relate it to the verse about how love covers a multitude of sin (1 Peter 4:8) I think we see this played out mainly as the Beast is transformed back into a human being, and not a beast anylonger, because of love's power and his submission to it. Another theme, a quite obvious one at that is that you cannot tell a book by it's cover.. seen in handsome Gustav and of course the Beast who really is a young man, caught in his sin of refusing to respond kindly to what he thought was nothing but an old hag.

There are other examples of love's power too, as Belle loves her father so much that would sacrifice herself, take his place in the punishment doled out by the Beast for trespassing on the Beast's turf. Belle stays in the dreadful castle, so he can return home as he is very ill. I also enjoyed the faithfulness of the Beast's servants to their master and found their apparent love for him to be quite notable in this regard too, although my son said that he thought they couldn't help themselves for they were under the enchanter's spell like the Beast was .


Some other things of note are:
How the Beast comes into the light so Belle can see him, before she agrees to stay...

How a rose is used to determine a set time...

The love of Belles father for his daughter... although he is portrayed as a rather foolish man... and yet she loves him.

When discussing the various elements of the film as a group, we discussed how (true to the Christian understanding of the world) Belle, in her seeming perfect life, (yet monotonous) yearned for something more than her world alone could offer... (but little did she know it would happen in such a way as this!) We also talked about and how the transformation that took place with the beast could be contrued as a type of "resurrection."

In simply discussing the movie at home, we kinda like the fact that in this movie the woods were not portrayed as the perfect place to live, (as they are in many cartoons and animations.) They are protrayed as dark and scary, quite scary in fact for little children as I mentioned. The wolves appear surprisingly out of nowhere and after our heros in their savage aggression.

We wondered about the very likable character, Lumiere's sexual obsession with women. We noted that one character gets jabbed in the behind, ( is this base humor?) and there was also the male character who falls into the drawers of a dresser and comes out of the wardrobe dressed in a skirt... (What exactly would be the point of that in a movie for kids?...Was it humor, and good to laugh at this? Was it simply just the reality of life? or Was it just plain wrong? )

This film certainly had a lot of subtle, "Christian" concepts... (or what can be construed as Christian concepts") in it. It even portrayed in many ways had a bit of what one might consider to be a "Christian worldview." However, it's subtlety can be construed in different ways. Our film group's discussion on this topic left me wondering what it was that did or did not make a "Christian" movie, or make a movie Christian. Could it be that what "makes a person a Christian" is quite possibly the same thing that makes a movie a "Christian" movie.

I have to admit, I am not big on spending a lot of time watching movies, however, I do enjoy a good movie now and then. I have to say too that I enjoyed this particular movie especially as an artistic endeavor. It was very creative that's for sure. And yet, I would not recommend it for little kids because it's scary, I think that's a bummer since it is a "G" rated film. Like Bambi, it has some elements to deal with emotionally, and particularly in this case, fear of dogs and wolves.

I do think there are some very good lessons in the presentation, (Philipeans 4:8 kinda things) and think that as far as movies go it has some good messages we could all stand to consider, particularly how we should not be so quick to judge something by the way it first appears to our sense of sight, and most certainly the redemptive power of this thing called "love."

Exodus

Exodus by Leon Uris
About 5 years ago I read a book with the subtitle How to get more books in your life and more life from your books, or something close to that. I can't remember the full title or the author, but one of the ideas I took away from that book was to read books set in the places you plan to visit (or wish to visit) prior to the trip. With that in mind and an upcoming trip to Israel, I posted on a message board asking for suggestons of books set in Israel and also London where we would spend a day and a night on the way. Every person who replied with an Israel book suggested Exodus by Leon Uris. So I read the book!



Exodus follows the rebirth of the nation of Israel. It is not written from a religious point of view, rather from a Zionist or National Israel perspective. More than anything it is a political history set in a novel. Though it is fiction, it gave me a much better understanding of the politics leading up to and surrounding the rebirth of Israel since the events and many of the characters are real.



My husband picked up another book by Uris since he enjoyed Exodus so much. He was quite disappointed and probably won't bother with any others unless they are specifically recommended.



I recommend this book to you if you love history or have a heart for Israel. I especially recommend it if you like to be reminded of how God is faithful and how he can use rulers and nations and even the United Nations for His purposes.

Heather

A Voice in the Wind

Good day readers!
I wonder how many of you love reading Francine Rivers like I do. My all time favorite is A Voice in the Wind. Hadassa is someone that is a role model for sure. I have read it two times over the years, and have not found another like it. Has anyone found another author that inspires you on like Francine? I read her book Leotas Garden also and remember that is was great, but cant remember the story. Does anyone remember that one? Help me out here if you have time.
Thanks,
Jill

The Inheritance

As I was down sick with the flu this past week, I found quite a bit of time on my hands. I took this time not to read because the vision was a little fuzzy....but, to watch movies. I always have my few favorites that my family seems to only tolerate when I am sick. So I had my son pull out my favorite movie, "The Inheritance". "The Inheritance" was written by Louisa May Alcott, the authoress of "Little Women". It is set in mid 1800s England and the main character, Edith, is my idea of a "Christian" woman. She is quite intelligent in a well-rounded manner. Her manners are flawless and she shines forth beauty from the inside as well as her outer appearance. At the end of the movie, they give subtitles as to the other characters and what became of them, so I thought this story might be based on some historical fact, but I cannot determine that that was the case. I did, however, find that a lot of people view this as a very light-hearted movie, in other words something not so very deep. I find myself in a completely opposite position. I think this movie speaks highly of what and who we are to be as Christians. The restrictions that were set on people simply because of bloodlines, who they knew, who they didn't know, I find very relevant because I find it very hypocritical. And in all of this, our heroine, Edith, who recieves blessings upon blessings after enduring hardship upon hardship, but never letting the adverse circumstances causing her to become anything less than who she already is....Although this movie is not Christian, I find it be very challenging to run the race as Paul encourages us to do. I always come away from it feeling happy but encouraged to keep on keeping on standing in Christ, trying to follow the Lord as best I know how by His leading and that I have a whole lot to work on in trying to become more of a 'lady'.

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire (book)

I actually read this book a while ago but decided to post about it because I had to post about something so that those of you on this blog would be inspired to post something too, or maybe just comment. I have actually this book twice. The first time I liked it. The second time, more recently... (like in about the last year,) I didn't.

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire is by Jim Cymbala, a pastor well known for his work in a powerty section of New York. His church is called the Brooklyn Tabernacle, and his wife is the director of the "Grammy Award Winning," Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. This book is one that I have heard people refer to as a great book to read, people including my pastor who also used Cymbala's quotes on handouts over the last year. Jim Cymbala has written over 40 books, which I think is quite a few. The subtitle to the Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire is, "What happens when God's Spirit invades the hearts of his people."

I barely got to page two, (Well, it really was the second page of my reading, but it was actually numbered page 12 in the book due to the table of contents and other miscellaneous pages,) when I started hearing ideas that I believe are incongruous with what I know to be true and began questioning what I read.

Foe example, Jim Cymbala talks on (pg 12) about how his father in law believed that he was being "called" by God into "full time Christian service." Now, I understand the principal here, that perhaps Jim is referring to, but as I read this, I was struck with thinking, "wait a minute... aren't all Christians, called into "full time Christian service?" He did not say, "called to pastoral ministry" or "teaching," but o "full time Christian service", and this sets itself up as opposed to... what?..."part time Christian service?"

Also, I think this kind of statement he made about being in "full time service," unlike the rest of Christians who are not full-time, not as devoted to God and serving him, is the very thing that sets people up to think that some in the Christian community are more holy or "closer to God" than they are. It also works two way in contributing to a "pastor" not being a brother in Christ, nor a fellow servant, but instead more like Christian code for "superior" or "CEO."

If you are in full time church business, and being a pastor is a job, a profession from which you derive your paycheck, a career choice like being dentist or an electrician, it follows that how well a pastor does his "job" equates itself to the size of building a church meets in, the number of books a pastor has in print (even better if they make the best seller lists of course!) and how many programs and people are under their particular pastoral management.

Next, Cymbala made a big deal about receiving "a sign,"(pg. 17) from God. His sign was two fifty dollar bills in a white envelope, which he described as a sign that "God was near and faithful." The note I made in the margin of my book asks, "What about the mere fact the God's word declares he is near and faithful." Are we Christians to believe God because we believe what God's word says or because he gives us signs to prove himself?

Cymbala here, was not an unbeliever, he was a Christian man who was trying to learn about leading a church congregation. At this time of his life he was however really wondering, sweating about how to pay the bills, crying out to God for help and drying his tears, even feeling like God had abandoned him because the pianist knew only one song and the collection plate was slim.

Let me say here that I believe God does answer our prayers and show himself faithful, he even does things we consider miraculous, meeting our needs in ways too wonderful for us to understand. I certainly do believe that he does, but Cymbala's enthusiastic inference about how God had given him a "sign" when the money he desperately needed mysteriously appeared via a white envelope on the foyer floor, and I note that it was nothing supernatural, nothing that went against nature, like a wet fleece or floating ax. No. The suddenly appearing money in a while envelope incident is reported to be so much more than just a documentation of God answering Jim's prayer. It was much not only a mystery, but a miracle.

And after making sure the reader thinks that God did a miracle by providing the envelope on the floor, Cymbala leaves the reader with an air of mystery about it all, saying, "To this day, I don't know where that money came from." The reader has no option but to believe it was a direct answer to Cymbalas pray and pleading,a direct result of prayer, and directly to Jim from God.

I guess what bugs me about this is that I have read how Jesus "sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation." (Mark 8:12 , see also, Luke 11:29) I have read also where Paul talks about how they do not simply believe in signs or in knowledge, but in the person of Christ. ( 1 Col. 1:22-24) He says, "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."

I take a bit of an issue with Jim pointing the reader to look for or trust in signs.

On another note, I know that Pastors are to pray for people, but I never thought a pastor would actually pray for people to leave the church, as Jim Cymbala said he did on page 21. He says that he even had to help answer his own prayers by suggesting that members consider another church and he talks about how this was because they "were out of step with the flavor of the church."

Do not get me wrong, I know sometimes people need to be confronted on issues, released from "duty" when they are not working toward the same "goal" as the person in charge, but if I think about someone praying for God to make people leave their life, and resorting to answering their own prayers , I cannot help but wonder, "Who, (in this situation) IS in the role of being God?" I have heard somewhere that God is longsuffering toward us, patient. Outside of meaning not of a personal preference or liking, I have no idea what it means for a person to simply be described as a "different flavor."

Jim doesn't say that these people that he prayed out of his congregation, were in habitual sin and would not change; nor does he say they were not Christian or that they were unwilling to help and be a part of the church. In fact Jim, who in his own words, had "a very hectic schedule" and "thousands of problems" he was dealing with, speaks with a bit of distain as he describes how this man offers his assistance and declares that this man's spiritual life was opposite of what it should have been for the task. Furthermore, Cymbala says that he wanted these people to leave because he "knew" that if they stayed, "the Lord would never bless the mess with the spiritual power they so disparately needed."

"Never" seems like a pretty big word to me.

Trhoughout the book Cymbala talks a lot about money and finances and understandably, so for money is a necessity... and a shelter, like wisdom. Interestingly, Jim says that God came to him and personally spoke, (pg 25) giving him promises about how he wold always have something fresh to preach, all the money that he needed for the church and for his family, and that he never having a building large enough to contain the crowds he would send to Jim," if....you and your wife will lead my people to pray and call upon my name."

I found myself wonderingat this part too. It sure sounded to me like some sort of prosperity doctrine as God's promise here to Jim seems to be one of "you will never suffer hardship," (IF) "if you lead my people to pray and to call upon my name."

As promising as it may be for God to bless Jim financially because he leads the church to pray, as spiritually sounding as it is, it sounds quite UNbiblical to me. Cymbala's primary job is now not to evangelize the unbelieving world for Christ, but to evangelize the church, and this in exchange for money and a following of people as he is "leading them to pray and call upon" his name." My thought is that this directive from God himself to Jim is a bit redundant for the church, if it is those who believe upon Jesus, those who are saved, is made up of those who have already called upon his name.

The book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire can be considered a call to prayer, a call to ask God for forgiveness for sin, a call to repentance... and in that regard it does have value, but in telling his congregation about what God told him, Jim says, "No matter what I preach or what we claim to believe in our heads, the future will depend upon our times of prayer" (p.27) and this takes me aback because I do not ever remember reading anything like that in the scripture either.

When I read the Bible I notonly see the directive to pray, "without ceasing" but also a directive to "preach" so people can hear the word of the Lord. And I wonder as I read this book," if it does not matter what you believe in your head," as Jim says, "why does the Bible say, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.'"

I also am reminded that Moslems, pray, Hindus pray, Buddhists, pray, Jews pray and some folks were even rebuked by Jesus because they prayed simply to be seen of other men. If what a person believed and preached were not important than Christianity would basically be on a parr with all these other religions who pray too. No different really than those who believe and preach things other than Christ. So, I wonder, "how can it not matter what you believe in your head?"

I ask, is this the voice of my master? Quite frankly, I think not.

I attend a church where my pastor preaches the word of God, and I would say, he does so quite faithfully, filling his hearers with knowledge of who God is and what he has said and done, often pointing out that the point of doing so is that we then allow God to change our hearts. His faithful preaching allows God's Holy Spirit to enlighten our dark minds with truth from God's holy word, light, and the result is that we gain understanding of who God is and open out heart to God's Holy Spirit, (who by the way, does not simply "invade" like a maruader. I am so thankful for a pastor who preaches from the Bible for how can people hear the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, unless someone preaches?

As I think about my own answer, I am confounded again by Cymbala's word, this time on page 138, when he writes, " What gains unbelievers’ attention and stirs the heart is seeing the gospel expressed in power. It takes more than academic rigor to win the world for Christ. Correct doctrine alone isn’t enough. Proclamation and teaching aren’t enough. God must be invited to ‘confirm the word with signs following."

There is that "signs" thing again.

I really am saddened over how many times Jim Cymbala dismisses the importance of doctrine and preaching contextually throughout this book. He says unbelievers need not hear, but to "see" power, and signs. This stands in stark contrast to Jesus saying to his disciples... blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. I am reminded too that people were not just amazed at the miracles of Jesus, they found his doctrine, his teaching, quite amazing too.

My particular copy of Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, has a study guide in the back, and "silly me ," I thought the study guide would be a little bit like a Bible study. Nope. (Shows how much I really know.) It was a study guide on the book Fresh Wind Fresh Fire, and Jim Cymbala. It is all about the things he said in the book the things that happened in the story, as well as all about what the reader thinks and whether or not the reader agrees or disagrees with Jim Cymbala.

Jim Cymbala is marketed to the church at large thhrough this book as someone the church should embrace and listen too. After all, we just learned that he has heard directly from God on the matter of prayer. We learned from Jim that prayer, not doctrine or belief is what will mpve the church into the future, and this as we watch a new kind of spirituality unfold before our eyes in the world, one where people of all faiths, not just all denominations of Christianity, pray together.

For this reason, I believe the book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, deserves the Christian's careful consideration as they read it, after all, as David Wilkerson says in his endorsement, "reading this book will change your life forever." That it may do, and hopefully for the best, and hopefully it won't change your mind about the importance of doctrine, the necessity of preaching of God's Word, or about loving God above all things.

Hopefully it won't leave a person looking for signs in order to believe in God. Hopefully we will not find ourselves praying people out of our lives, or out of our congregations, but praying for them and building them up and encouraging them, washing them with the pure water of the word. And hopefully Christians are praying for patience, endurance under difficulty and trials, and praying for wisdom as they find themselves dealing with those peculair multidimensional relationships with seemingly dysfunctional, " unusually flavored," people, praying for them, not against them as they encounter with a loving and compassionate, holy God.

Pirates of Penance (on stage)

Well, I did say we could post about any kind of media....

Tonight we went to see Pirates of Penzance, a Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera on stage at Spokane's Civic Theater, (or is it Theatre? You may choose.) What a gem! I was impressed to learn that the play itself was first performed in 1879. (This shows how much, or is it little, that I know!)

Did I mention it was an opera? A comedy? Between the high operatic notes and the humor as well as the fantastic costumes, set design and acting we were quite entertained. For me, it was my first opera, and I tell you, I have never really liked opera, mostly because I had no idea what was being said. This show was in English, lively and humorous.

Frederic a young man serving as an indentured apprenticeship to a band of pirates turns twenty one and is released from service to them, vowing to stop pirating, having only done it because it was his duty.... He meets Mabel, the daughter of Major-General Stanley, with whom he fallss in love. Now he vows to fulfill his duty to rid the world of scoundrel pirates. (Who really are tenderhearted pirates... and are even nice to orphans.) But this is only until Fredrick finds out that he is not quite twenty one... he was born, it seems on leap year making him only 5 which means he must serve, as is his duty, for another 63 years and Mabel agrees to wait for him faithfully.

I talked to one friend who said she has seen several production of Pirates over the years and she thought this one was the best. Her reason: She said some of them try to be too modern in the presentation and this one was really done well without the modernization.

I actually found this show to be quite refreshing. It had a lot of redemptive quality.

There was the "call to duty".... the idea of marriage.... the Major general feels guilty for lying to the pirates... the pirates are merciful... the Major asks forgiveness of the pirates... stuff like that. Wholesome is really the one word I would use to describe this show. Wholesome, creative and just plain fun to watch.

If you like theater and want to see a good show, I heartily recommend Pirates of Penzance. However, please note that they are picky and do not allow young children in the audience. I think they offer special performances for people with kids.

And I want you to know that I am being objective, as least for someone who enjoys theater... and being objective as possible with my daughter is in the show! In the photo she is in the middle-back, wearing the pink dress.

My Fathers Dragon

Good day readers! Well I have to share one of our favorite books when my kids were young and we were homeschooling. (They are 19 and 21 now! ) Anyway it is My Fathers Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett. It is a very simple chapter book that they can read alone, but is much better read aloud! It is a boy telling the story of his dad when he was young and how he had to rescue a dragon held in slavery. The cat tells the boy what to bring in his backpack for the journey, and every item is very creatively used! ( homeschoolers of young kids- read it aloud, make a poster of all the things in the backpack, and cross them off when they are used. call it art)
Anyway, we had family sayings from this book, the most used was "bum cack, bum cack, we dreed our naggin! " A funny thing happened about a year ago. I said that little saying to one of the boys, and they said " Hey, what is that from? I totally remember that silly line and dont know why" Funny what they remember!!
Ok Ruth wrote 2 or 3 sequils to this book, The Dragons of Blueland etc... but the best is the first. It is worth a read. Jill

The Truman Show (movie)

The Truman Show produced in 1988 didn't get watched by me until about 2005. (I was a little late I guess.) It came recommended to me by a friend who loaned me a copy of the movie.

The film was an huge financial undertaking by Paramount Pictures who I read spent over 60 million dollars on it's production. It is rated PG, written by Andrew Niccoli, directed by Peter Weir and stars Jim Carey. In the film, Carey plays a character named as Truman Burbank, a major television star, and the catch is, even though he is so very famous, even though he is a so famous and the whole world watching his every move on TV, he does not even know it.

An unwanted pregnancy, his birth broadcast is on television and he is adopted by a corporation and then his whole life is aired to to the world, captured on film as his whole existence is lived out on a sort of Hollywood film set. Everything he has ever done, every emotion he has experiences as been done for "reality" TV, filmed by hidden cameras.

He lives out his life captive to a world created just for him by the creator/ director and it is as if everything is planned, scripted for him as the camera shows the watchful eye of a curious John Q. Public, his life. Even the weather is controlled by the director.

At the age of 30 though, Truman is catching on to the oddities of his captive life in his constructed world. Realizing things are just a bit weird and out of his control he begins to wonder and we watch as he begins the inward journey of discovering the world he has always known is not what he thought, in fact he strangely feels like he is always being watched. Meanwhile, outside his world, in the "real world of consumers" people are in fact watching him, on TV's. Producers are trying to keep him oblivious to reality, worried he night find them out and the show would be over and Truman fans are rallying for his escape.

My friend recommended the movie because of it's presentation of religion. The movie is an obvious commentary on television and how we view reality which is interesting to me too, but I must I too was impressed with the profoundly religious connotations that left me considering their 60 million dollar message to the viewing world.

For example the director of the Truman set is Christof, who by the way, lives in the "moon."
With a director named Christof... you have to wonder at the connotation... does the director and creator of Truman's world represent Christ, (God) or Anti Christ? Since this "God" figure lives in the "moon" you have to wonder how does this relate to perhaps a "moon God"?

And what reality is Truman escaping from? What reality is he escaping to? What is there really beyond his universe or the universe of television viewers everywhere? Is Truman rejecting God or Satan as he appears to walk on water and climb a stairway to the real world outside of his set which he finds at the edge of the universe, the only universe he has ever known. The analogies... spiritual, philosophical, psychological, cultural.. are nearly endless in this film and quite intriguing.

Fahrenheit 451 (book)

It's September... and Banned Book Week occurs the last week of September every year…
What are you reading?

I am just posting here to get you started... but let me ask some thought provoking questions, based on my reading of this book, or any book for that matter:

Do you believe in the freedom to read, write, think and speak your mind, your conscious, your heart? What if the page you are reading was "banned" because it contained something offensive to someone somewhere? When was the last time you heard of a book being banned? Should books be banned? Why or why not? Do you believe in "freedom?" And what exactly does freedom mean... to you?

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (Also a movie by this title)

This book was a fascinating journey of mind for me. In fact, a few years ago I wrote: "Fahrenheit 451 was one of my personal favorite reads this year!" and you can quote me on that!
But let me add, This book uses swear words in it and some people want it to be banned.

You do know, don't you , that even the so-called "Great works of literature" have been banned: "Ulysses," "Canterbury Tales," "The Arabian Nights," "Frankenstein," "Call of the Wild," not to mention religious works like The Bible have been banned at one time or another, somewhere. That in itself is an interesting topic of study and discussion, thought provoking in fact; but back to this book....

This book was published in 1953. That is over fifty years ago and it helps to think about what life was like fifty years ago compared to today. The world was different.. very different. This is a science fiction book and Bradbury had no idea of the future when he wrote, he just imagined another world and another place and time and imagined a story that we can read today and feel a little bit like he was writing about us today in many ways. His writing is provocative in that there are religious overtones to the story, symbolism too, and it's a book that reminds us, as Theodore Roosevelt, President of the US, once said, ".books are weapons in the war for ideas..."

In this story, people are no longer intellectual; they no longer read books. Books have all been banned. Instead, the people of Bradbury's future are driven by their senses... teenagers road rage for entertainment.. and it's the legal norm. Humans exist for the sole purpose of visual and audio stimulation... their television sets encompassing their living room walls and people walk around with something called "seashells" in their ears, listening to music constantly and communicating, never given a thought to the natural world.

It's a systematic, machine and electric driven world where the machines of the land have take on "lifelike qualities" and even have entertainment value. They even have invented and use a 'mechanical hound' to hunt, selections made of course by the creatures amino acid sequence, but more than for mere hunting, this culture, into sensory stimulation, uses such a mechanical beast as this, (man's best friend replica) for the grotesque pleasure of watching the creature die.

It's a shocking book, even uses swear words in the text, something for which some want it banned from reading in the schools, but then, what about "freedom" of speech? What about freedom of thought? What about Freedom of the press?

Besides, it's fiction... science fiction.

So, it's about this guy who is a fireman. It's his job to protect the public, to preserve the common good and burn down anything that hints of thinking outside the norms for his society... mainly to stamp out any threat of books. But a few things happen to this guy, for instance he meets a young girl one day who make him think... and then...

This is his story. The story of his discovery of what really was inside all those things he's been told to burn... books.

And it's amazing. I read this book just before the "Blue Tooth" thing was popular for cell phones and they sure looked like a "sea shell" to me. And by the way, have you been to Best Buy lately? I hear they are having a sale on wall-to wall-TV's.

The Jolly Postman

The Jolly Postman (or Other People's Letters) by Janet and Allen Ahlberg

I saw this book on my book shelf and thought I would post about it because it is one of my most memorable reads and while it is secular in nature, it has some neat fatures I though you other moms and grandmas might be interested in. First of all it's historic, because it is an old book, written a long long time ago before there was even email. As you know, back it the olden days, in the days before email, when I was just a kid, I had to walk all the way out to my mailbox to get the mail!

This secular minded book is a book of letters that the reader gets to open and read, which if you are about eight is very fun. The letters are not addressed to the reader... they are letters received (once upon a time in a land far far away...) by some famous fairy tale characters, including the Three Bears, The Wicked Witch, (She gets "junk" er... a .. catalog advertisements for witchy stuff,) The Big Bad Wolf, Cinderella, and others.

Now, I have to say that I have not read between the lines in these sotries AND since the Ahlbergs are British, I was sort of wondering if this book was and inspiration, once upon a time for JK Rowlings.. (of Harry Potter Fame) I do not know for sure, but I can tell you that I personally found the endorsement or shall I say legitimizing of the Wicked Witches World (WWW..BTW) a bit painful for me personally as a Christian reading the book to my younger kids. I actually got the book before I was a Christian, before I had any personal conviction about presented fairytale witches any other way the "wicked and evil, except for maybe good white witches like in the Wizard of Oz.

(I mean, the dilemma for me was, do you instruct your kids that witches are not real otr that witchcraft is not a sin? Do you instruct them that they are real, and how do you really feel about Holloween? (or maybe that witches are "funny" instead of really "wicked"?)

At any rate, you may want to wrap your head around the right perspective there... especially before reading it to your youngsters. I can tell you we have read a few fairytales ourselves in life, or at least seen the Disney movies.. and I am sure that some people find what the Ahlbergs came up with, particularly for witches junk/catalogue mail, including "Little Boy Pie Mix" pretty funny. (I think she is the 'Hansel and Gretel' Witch of storybook lore, at least she lives at a Gingerbread Cottage.)

And did I mention that they are British? Oh well, that explains it all, I am sure!

It's a cool concept for a book. Some of the pages in the book serve as book pages, others as envelopes, addressed to the various characters... of course and complete with stamps. The reader must look inside each envelope, remove and read the contents. (It's just like the book says, reading other people's letters.)

Truth is, the fairytale motifs and characters are, as such, ingrained in my brain, and I have a brother who is a postal worker so I found this kid's book to be quite fun. I think it's quite imaginative too. It is definitely a book with secular appeal, but it is one I have kept on my books shelf for years. I am posting about it, mostly as an educator, because I think it presents a great premise for a kids' writing project... have them make their own book of letters....

Simply choose your own characters, maybe the animals you live with... favorite book characters... people in history... or write letters to the people in the future, (like a time capsule...write to them about the events of today) Simply imagine the mail they might receive or write to each of them. In fact you could skip spending the $20.00 for the book, and forgo the witch issue too... and make your own cool "other people's letter's" book for your own kids to read.

I say this simply because I think the letter reading is the best part of this book. But keep in mind however, that it's won't be as fancy as the Ahlberg's who took a number of years to actually formulate this one. I can only tell you that a book of letters was fun to read. The best part was the surprise of what could be inside an envelope to each!

The book is a little series too. There is also, The Jolly Pocket Postman.. (He gets shrunk and you need a magnifying glass ... included with the book) to "see" him. (actually not too small) ) and the Jolly Christmas Postman... (Post man through the now and Santa Story)

Uncle Sam's Plantation

Uncle Sam's Plantation by Star Parker

Have you heard of Star Parker? Do you know who she is? I didn't know who she was until recently, when I heard her speak at the Union Gospel Mission luncheon this summer. I will add that that was a day I will long remember, not because of her, but because it was a day in which a lot of things were happening in my life on a personal level during that time, and in it all, God included me hearing her speak.

After she spoke I bought a couple of her books to read, and this was one. It is subtitled, How Big Government Enslaves America's Poor and What We Can Do About It. She writes from a conservative perspective, and she is a Christian. To learn more about her back ground read about her at wikipedia or read her book.

It's interesting to read her story and see her insight into what keeps the poor poor and on welfare. I also believe her testimony about the slavery of the welfare system is something other people experience too. This book is definitely an eye opener, not only of the value of free enterprise and giving people a chance to work and make a living, but also of Jesus Christ and what a difference he makes in people's lives.

I applauded Star Parker when she spoke that day in the banquet hall at Red Lion, and I applauded her personally in my living room after reading her book too. I think she says a lot of really important things that need to be said.

Parker says that being dependent on government, instead of independent, is as lot like living in slavery. She says and it's no secret, that if you are poor, living in a ghetto in bad situations, stuck in the grips of sin... it's bad and you may even need help, but government programs like welfare cannot be the savior to the problem. She says that because the system feeds the system, it creates jobs that people need to keep, it creates people who can get by without needing to work and this coupled with a liberal mindset is only bondage. Parker says such a system, has not worked yet, is only growing bigger, not smaller and only works to keep people in it's form of slavery.

She points a finger at the government funded programs that just keep throwing money (from more taxation) and more "programs" at the problems. She says that this has created a system that is all about the money and the programs, not the people.

Parker also points a finger at liberal politics, which she claims has broken down the necessity and concept of family and family life, especially among the poor. Feminism has been sown in our mindset and swept marriage out the door. She says men feel freedom from the responsibility of father hood because women do not respect them, or want them in their lives. And on a governmental level, Who needs a dad to work and support a child, and certainly not financially, when Uncle Sam will simply pick up the tab with monthly welfare checks for unmarried moms.

Parker says that for men liberalism in politics and the media has taken away the moral compasses of men who instead are guided by a belief that their self worth comes in the form of sexual conquests and in the power of money. Many now believe that abortion is simply a medical response to the illness of pregnancy. She even goes so far as to use former (liberal minded) President Bill Clinton as an example of a man who is sexually a predator of women, and a media in America, who would have us all believe that adulterous actions (for men in particular,) really are quite natural, just a part of and what it means to be a man, and really no body's business but his own. (She points at how this is the role model for men, and for men in the ghetto, who see the president as a man with power and money too.)

She says that feminism has taught women that marriage will make them dependent on men, they learn that marriage is nothing but another form of slavery and prostitution. So with a feminist mindset, legal paid for abortions and birth control, and welfare checks, women, like men, do not have to have the responsibility of raising a family and if they do raise a family... children are born out of wedlock. Where are the men? Who needs them? Just keep the welfare check coming.

Parker says that Uncle Sam wants you on his payroll, because you are the one who keeps a reason for his own paycheck drawn from taxes. She says that Sam's taxes gladly pay for abortion after abortion too. Parker knows the score; a woman on welfare for years, she has had four of them herself. She says unequivicably that Uncle Sam's money is not the solution to poverty or ghettos, or any other social ills. The solution, according to Parker is not big government or money, it is morality.

Parker believes that America has shifted from believing in God and believing in God's ways. She says that government has taken on the role oif the church, even urges the church to be pro-active in the solving of social issues, (like Union Gospel Missions feeding and sheltering the homeless, and this instead of government funded programs!) She assesses that more and more, the church is falling into the wood work as government and government funding takes over in doing what the church has always done. She urged her listeners and readers to be actively the church and not let government programs take over what the church should be doing,

She also says that people have been brainwashed into believing they deserve a handout from Uncle Sam, something they need to stop believing. She said people are quick to look to the government for help financially, something she says began as our country went through "the Great Depression."

I liked Star Parkers frankness and honesty. I liked her courage to call a spade a spade and tell it like it is, her courage to continually point the reader to Almighty God. She does not mince words either in person as a speaker, or in her books and she admonishes the church to exercise real faith and dump the governmental, "faith based" federal funding to private charitable groups.

Parker reminds her readers that her in the USA the government's job is to secure freedom not enslave us to our sin, but to set men free. Their job is to protect and defend our freedom, to allow human beings to have faith in God and speak about our faith and live as God intended we should live... not as slaves of sin or slaves of government, not as those who are free from having any morals or values, but as those who are truly "free."

She says wean people off these government systems and stop the mind control. God's morals and ethics, his idea of family and family values, and the Christian faith, is what is needed. It's the remedy.

The Phantom Tollbooth

Phantom Tollbooth written by Norton Juster in 1961, is one of my favorite books ever. I may have read it long long ago, once upon a time, when I was a child, (I seem to have a vague, very vague, memory of such a thing in a databank somewhere...) BUT, if i did, I really do not remember, but I did read it as an adult.

I had a friend who kept telling me, "Lisa, you will really like this book." I would simply think of the title, "Phantom Tollbooth" and wonder why it was she wanted me to read a book about a phantom. I had enough to read and write and do, than take the time to read a children's book anyhow.

She kept asking me if I had read it yet, and I 'd say "No." She's say, "Lisa, YOU really need to read this book!" She never really told me much about the book itself, she would only ask me if I read it yet and tell me that I needed to.

"Weird."

One day I came upon a copy of the book at the local library. I decided toread it, mostly to appease my friend of course. I was intrigued that she thought so highly of this book and se and I connected on so many levels that if she wanted me to read it, I would give it a try. It was a little bit like one of those "Sam I am who does not eat green eggs and ham experiences, for I now know why she told me to read it and I have to say, I love it!

I really love this book. It is so much fun to see what the author does with words and their meanings. It's a sort of fairytale adventure of a boy named Milo who while bored one day, (obviously bored with having to be IN SCHOOL all day) finds a mysterious package in his room. He opens it to find out that it is the entrance to a magical world, the Kingdom of Wisdom and it's here that a wonderfully entertaining punfilled and metaphorical adventure begins...

Like all fairytale adventures, Milo, our hero, begins a quest to rescue a princess, but in this case it's actually two princesses, (Rhyme and Reason) who have been banished from the land due to some argument about numbers and letters. They are held hostage at the Castle in the Air and in their absence the whole kingdom has been plagued with discord and disharmony. So Milo, as the hero, rescues them by using wisdom. He his traveling companions have to overcome the various obstacles in their way, but they do and they happily return the princesses to their home. The kingdom is restored to peace and harmony, once more because, now rhyme and reason have returned.

This is perhaps one of those many books that adults think are written only for children.
This is probably because it is fairytale-like, or outlandish and imaginative, even a little whimsical and as such considered "silly" by many. I believe that many "adults" do not appreciate such things unless they are adulterated, they think that they are "just for kids."

This book is obviously very wisely written and it makes me laugh every time I think of some of the things in this story not to mention how incredible words really are! Someday I hope to reread this book and take the adventure with Milo once again... but there are so many books and so little time...

This book is but a glimpse into the wonders of words which I believe to be God's wisdom at work, making himself and his wisdom known unto the simple, childlike hearts that seek to please him and know his ways. It's marketed for children, and rightly so, for it is a very creative and imaginative tale about a faraway imaginary land, a hero and his adventures with a dog, but it's really a classic, a book that has universal appeal.

The Phantom Tollbooth has been compared to Alice in Wonderland stories, or to Baum's Wizard of Oz, and it is easy to see the similarities, but Disney never made a movie on this book. I am glad I read this book. I tend I think it is really for the more advanced readers, who like Norton Juster who wrote the tale, can grasp the metaphors and meanings of words.


If you do not want to take a journey with Milo by reading the book, click here and read some ad some excerpts, just to get a flavor for the book. The illustrations are wild.


QUOTES:

"Everyone loved the princesses because of their great beauty, their gentle ways, and their ability to settle all controversies fairly and reasonably … It was said by everyone that Rhyme and Reason settle all problems." (Chapter 6)

"But it's not just learning things that's important. It's learning what to do with what you learn and learning why you learn things at all that matters." (Chapter 18)

The Shack

The Shack by William P. Young

I guess I read more books that I think. Here is another book I have read recently.

When I first heard of this run-a-muck "bestseller" sweeping through the church, I had no interest in reading it. However, as time went by the book gained quite a following. A friend told me that everyone at her church was reading it, carrying it around like it was the Bible. It felt almost as popular as Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life, and it soon became a book I had to read, simply to converse about it via first hand, not second hand, or third hand with others. People seem to respect your opinion more if you have at least taken the time to read the book, so I read it.

I think that the thing that turned me off and made me not want to read it at first, was that the story seemed to be a sort of fictional murder mystery novel. Quite frankly, the story of a young girl abducted while on a camping trip with her family in the woods by a serial killer is not a tale that I WANTED to read. I actually prefer not to have visions of such things play before my mind, if I do not have to.

On a different note, I have a friend who was at the lake with her family and two men cam ep to them and asked to borrow a canoe from them. (This was years ago. ) They let them borrow their boat, only to soon realize that their 9 year old daughter was missing, nowhere to be found. It became obvious that there was a possibility that the men had taken her with them in the canoe.

The dad, went after the men, even caught them with his daughter in the canoe and the girl was returned safely. That is a true story. The Shack, as I was hearing, was fiction...

Or was it? I began reading to learn that the Shack was the true story of Mackenzie Allen Philips' real life experience of his daughters death, written by his good friend William P. Young. (The author)

Talk about confusing! It had me wondering if it was fact or fiction.

Well, I tell you, once you get to the end of the book, you read the final section of the book, titled “The Story behind THE SHACK,” where the author tells you the story is fiction. But then it's even more confusing because on top of that, the word on the street and the word of the endorsers of the book say that the book was teaching "theological lessons." You see besides the well-meaning friends who pull you aside and say, "Hey man, you have got to read this book!" there are some hearty endorsements by some well known names and prominent people in the churched community who say things like:

"Wrapped in creative brilliance, The Shack is spiritually profound, theologically enlightening and life impacting. It has my highest recommendation. We are joyfully giving copies away by the case." Steve Berger, Pastor, Grace Chapel

"Riveting, with twists that defy your expectations while teaching powerful theological lessons without patronizing. I was crying by page 100. You cannot read it without your heart becoming involved." Gayle Irwin, (someone whose teaching I have sat under in my chuirch.)

"When the imagination of a writer and the passion of a theologian cross-fertilize the result is a novel on the order of The Shack. This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his. It’s that good!" Eugene Peterson, (author of The Message)


So, I found a copy of the book at the second hand store, spared the fifty cents and read it.
Like Gayle Erwin, after reading to page 100 I was crying too, but not because I thought it was such a fantastic book. It may be an engrossing story, it may even a person warm fuzzies as they think of how much God loves them, but it has some really strange ideas that sounded nothing like the Jesus I know. It perplexed and grieved me that so many people LOVED this book. Some said it was the greatest thing they had ever read.

I sat down and wrote a letter to Gayle Irwin asking him why he personally endorsed the book. It was one email he never answered. Another person I know emailed Gayle and did get an answer, which was really only a question. Gayle wanted to know what the specific objections to the book were. I am not certain what the objections my friend had or of any further conversation about it with Gayle but I know that my pastor did a write up on The Shack (talking about how the book was umbilical) at at his blog.

The Shack asserts things like:

"The true Church is the kingdom of God on earth...composed of all, regardless of race or creed, who live by the light within...."[p.11]

"...religions, to a large extent, became divisive rather than unifying forces. ... They became ideologies, belief systems people could identify with and so use them to enhance their false sense of self. Through them, they could make themselves 'right' and others 'wrong'..."[p.15]

"...heaven is not a location but refers to the inner realm of consciousness.... Earth, on the other hand, is the outer manifestation in form, which is always a reflection of the inner.... 'A new heaven' is the emergence of a transformed state of human consciousness, and 'a new earth' is its reflection in the physical realm."[p.23]

Papa speaking, (Papa is a black woman who is in the role of God) : “Honey, there’s no easy answer that will take your pain away. Believe me, if I had one, I’d use it now. I have no magic wand to wave over you and make it all better. Life takes a bit of time and a lot of relationship” (92)

“In seminary (Mack) had been taught that God had completely stopped any overt communication with moderns, preferring to have them only listen to and follow sacred Scripture, properly interpreted, of course. God' is s voice had been reduced to paper, and even paper had to be moderated and deciphered by the proper authorities and intellects. It's seemed that direct communication with God was something exclusively for the ancients and uncivilized, while Westerner's access to God was mediated and controlled by the intelligentsia. Nobody wanted God in a box, just in a book. Especially in an expensive one, bound in leather with gilt edges, or was that guilt edges? freedom is an incremental process."[p.95]

Do you see the passion of a theologian here? It may be the "passion" of a theologian coming through but it is not sound biblical theology. Not only that, in this story, Mack is a Christian already, one who has been to seminary school, believed the bible himself, and is now being taught by some fictional characters in a made up tale, (along with the reader,) that everything he knew and had learned was wrong. Papa, Sarayu and Jesus were teaching him correctly, and is was not the stuff in the leather book with "guilt edges" after all.

Do you feel like crying yet?

If the reader were to absorb into theier mind and heart, the theology of The Shack they would believe a lot of really strange things at the end of the book. Like how God (dear sweet feminine Papa) has no answer to the pain in our lives,( pg. 92) and biblical "heaven" (probably the opposite of hell and very much like it in theory) is not a real location, but merely the emergence of a "transformed state of human consciousness." (pg 23)

The really sad thing is that the book's theology doesn't get any better after page 100.

Papa says to Mack, “I don’t need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It’s not my purpose to punish it; it’s my joy to cure it. "(122)

(Is this good theology? What bible verse says that sin is it's own punishment? )

Mack asks "Papa," (the woman) what Jesus accomplished by dying. She tells him, “Through his death and resurrection, I am now fully reconciled to the world.” [pg. 192]

(Is this Good theology? What verse tells us that Jesus died and was raised again to life for God's benefit, and did this event take place so God could now be "fully reconciled to the world" or so man could be reconciled with God and his righteousness?" How does this "shack" theology compare to Rom.5:10, 2 Cor.5:20 1 Cor. 1:21?

Interestingly, some people have called this book "Christian fiction." This can only be beause in their miinds, when you talk about things like the Trinity, (God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit,) sin, heaven and bibles, it makes it "Christian."

Another term people have used to describe The Shack is "reality fiction." I understand the concept, because I have thought about it a lot before, but the shack is really a lot more fiction that reality. It would be better to call it fictioon reality, but in truth, fiction is what it is.

My advice is don't buy this book, and don't read it... unless you have to. If you already read it and like it, or if you need to read it, there are some very good helpful and informative resources to guide you in thinking about what this books say and what scripture teaches. Some good ones can be found at the Spiritual Resources Network on line.

Deceived On Purpose

Deceived On Purpose by Warren Smith

This is an excellent expose' of Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life books and philosophy and I think this little easy to read book is a must read for everyone who ever felt a red flag about it. I am so glad that Smith, wrote this book. I only wish that more people would read it.

I, myself, am amazed at what I have watched Rick Warren do in the church, even more amazed at what I have heard him say, (or neglest to say.) Be like a Berean, see if what people are telling you is true. That is what Warren Smith does here, and he documents everythingtoo, so that if you do not believe him, you can find the source pretty easy and see if what he says is true.

I have also loaned this book out several times and the people who read it also thought it was a good book too. (I like getting feedback from people on the books we share in common.) I read a few reviews of Warren SMith's book online lately and I think it's kinda funny how if people think of Rick Warren as America's Pastor, they do not see a problem with Rick Warren, and instead fault the author of this book for his views. All I can say is that if you have ever had a red flag about Rick Warren's teachings, this book will help you understand why you felt that way. It was, pardon the pun, a purposeful sense of being cautious. Warren Smith will help you better understand "why."

This book is one I have even bought extra copies to give to people, it's THAT good! I have given them away too. (I have a personal rule of not giving books to people that I have not read... unless of course I tell them, "Hey, I have not read this book!"... and then they wonder why I am having them read that book instead of me!)

Another book by Warren is called Reinventing Jesus and it can be read online, <click here> or at Warren Smith's webpage, www. decievedonpurpose.com. This book was published and online free for the reading before Smith had ever heard of Rick Warren or his “Purpose-Driven” movement. Read this one too if you are so inclined, and like to read online. You can also order it bound in paper.

It's not a book I have seen at Christian Supply, but you might check there. I had the old book store order my first copy for me, and then I bought more online. I think this book is available at lighthousetrailspublishing.com. Try Warren Smith's website too.

Laughter Calls Me

Laughter Calls Me by Catherine Brown

This book is subtitled, "A young Woman's search for truth leads to a courageous battle to save her children:" and it is a true story about a young mother who discovers that her children have become the victims of child pornography, a situation perpetrated by a family member and the tedious heart wrenching court battles that ensues. It's a book that shows how her faith in the Lord sees her through. Be warned, ecause of the subject matter, it is not an easy read.

I can see where this book could be very encouraging to someone who could relate to this experience. Pornography and especial child pornography or any kind of sexual abuse is often not only a reality some people need to face, but it is such an emotionally painful issue discuss and very hard to "go public" with if you find you need to, hard to even talk about, so I applaud this woman's sharing of her life. In her story, there is no doubt as to the difficulties, and I will add here that this story also involves divorce.

It's an honest book, so if you decide to read it, be prepared for that. It's a glimpse into treading through the quagmire of emotion and legalities when they come face to face with the reality of child sexual abuse, but it has a happier ending... ultimately that of a hope in Jesus Christ our Lord and hoe God is with us even in the pain.

I have loaned my book to a couple of people, and though it has been returned we have never had a chance to talk about the book. I think it's the subject matter. It's been about three years since I read it, but it is one that I will not soon forget. As it turns out, Catherine Brown is not the real name of the author, it's a pseudonym, but she has since disclosed her real identity and I can tell you, she is a real person, someone this story really happened too.

I like reading biographicals about real people, their thoughts and their lives and I like this book because it's Christian. I think of it along the lines of Corrie Ten Boom and her story of living life in the hardship of a concentration camp, or Elizabeth Elliot who lived through the loss of her husband, her friend. Laughter Calls me, is the story of a hippie girl of the sixties who is busy doing her own thing until she comes to faith in the Lord and it's about the Lord's faithfulness to see her through such painful and difficult issues in her life as she holds on to her faith despite the darkness she is in.

This book can be ordered from Lighthouse Trails Publishing Company, lighthousetrails.com and in case you are wondering, Catherine Brown is thepen name for Deborah Dombrowski, editor of Lighthouse Trails Publishing.

Seduction of Eva Volk

Check out the book "Seduction of Eva Volk" ... AWESOME! ... http://www.cdbaker.com/www.cdbaker.com/Seduction_of_Eva/Seduction_of_Eva.html

Beverly Schmitt of Preston Speed Publications sent me a notice of this up and coming book. It looks very intriguing.

Politically Correct Bedtime Stories

Politically Correct Bedtime Stories by James Finn Garner

Looking for diversity? Looking for stories that promote social justice, show equality of the sexes and give witches and goblins awareness of their cultural identity as well as examines the history of inclusion and exclusion of the social classes? This could be it, for these stories are filled with pearls of information to put into your social conscientiousness about such important topics as gender, race, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, disabilities, and culture.

No doubt, some would fail to see the humor in such "politically correct" tales, but in such a day as we now live if you didn't laugh you would cry, and George and I laughed our way through most of these short stories. It was great because we are familiar of course with the original tales and seeing them in a NEW AGE light, made them quite humorous, not only that, they were short, so that made them enjoyable too. Keep in mind, these are tainted versions of the originals, and in fact, they are what I would consider to be adult versions of the once beloved children's tales and not for children at all, (and I will even admit to have skipped reading a couple that I found too offensive,) but the diversion of turning the sickness of political correctness into humor drew me to read most of them just the same.

In Goldielocks, for example, the bears are noted as a traditional nuclear family, defined as one that enslaves womyn and generally imprints rigid notions of heterosexual roles unto the next generation. Note: womyn is a politically correct spelling of women and used throughout the book. There are many alternative spellings, including "womon" and "womin". The term has been used in modern times tied to the concept of feminism, as a form of the word without the connotations of a patriarchal society aka the word "men" in the word.) Anyhow Mama bear and Papa bear are politically correct, although traditionally nuclear, and have avoided these traditional pitfalls. they have given their offspring, the non gender specific name of 'baby.'

As the story goes they sit down to breakfast and go for a walk.... when lo and behold, Goldielocks, a maverick biologist who has been spying on the bears for days enters their cottage. Her intent, of course, is to put radio collars on the bears so that they can be tracked. Goldie puts tranquilizer in their porridge and snares under the pillows of their beds, thinking of course, that to do such research on these bears will make her famous.

Suspicious of the chemical scent in their porridge, the bears don't eat it when they get back from their walk, instead they go upstairs to their bedroom and there they spy the snares with the radio collars under their pillows. They are wise bears and cannot be so easily fooled you see.

Papa bear mauls the biologist and they eat her, even though they are vegetarians, but at the end we see how even though they are avowed vegetarians, they are "always ready to try new things," because "flexibility is just one more benefit of being multicultural."

The author lives in Chicago with his spousal life mate and their new pre-adult. He has written several "processed tree carcasses" ... (aka books) I have read Once Upon a More Enlightened Time, a book of tales of the same genre. I found it quite fascinating to read his humor and enlightening to take a peek into the world of political correctness that I really am quite unaware of,one that living in Chicago, being a writer and entertainer and all he has no doubt encountered. I liked his sense of humor and am proud that he would dare to use the terms like womyn, even though he would no doubt be taken less seriously and credibly by serious academics and common people alike.

Yes, as sick humor as it was, and as sadly true as it all is, he made me laugh, which I thought was rather funny, considering that I am, of course, part of the more traditional family unit.. neither homophobic nor feminist, simply Christian.

As a Christian woman, I am not afraid to say I am woman. I have no conscious or subconscious need to change the spelling of the word that identifies me. I am quite happy with my gender too. I have no inward need to change my gender, or act out another role in hopes of feeling better about myself. I also do not have to appeased the expectations of my peergroup in order to fit in, you know be homogeneous, a clone of the world.

I am essentially not very politically correct. I am a homeschooling mom though, which is probably why I found these bedtime stories somewhat educational and a bit humorous.. Perhaps they are even a little too honest of a reflection of our adult modern culture, life and times.