Where the Spirit Is, R. Shea Watts (Pickwick, Eugene, 2023) Christians hold a variety of perspectives on the Pentecostal movement. Some branches of the Christian family tree believe that the movement, which began in Los Angeles in the early twentieth century, is a fake. Encounters with the Holy Spirit and the demonstration of spiritual gifts, […]
Reviews
Review of books, articles, or other media
Interview with Joab
Interview with Joab Interview with Joab, Michael Braswell (Wipf and Stock, Eugene, 2014). They say, “History is written by the victors.” We are currently learning the validity of this observation, as minority historical accounts emerge, such as African American, Native American, and Feminine. History looks quite different when viewed from these different perspectives. The same […]
Beguiled By Beauty
Beguiled by Beauty: Cultivating a Life of Contemplation and Compassion, Wendy Farley (Westminster John Knox, Louisville, 2020). From the traveling I have done, I have discovered that tour guides are worth their weight in gold. I may have significantly researched an area I planned to visit. When I arrived at my destination, however, I discovered […]
Designed to Heal
Designed to Heal: What the Body Shows Us About Healing Wounds, Repairing Relationships, and Restoring Community, Jennie A. McLaurin and Cymbeline Tancongco Culiat (Tyndale Momentum, Carol Streams, 2021) Bookshelves are lined with volumes advising readers how to end conflict, heal broken relationships and deal with the inevitable wounds of life. These books usually base their […]
Clayton’s Chronicles
Clayton’s Chronicles, Jere Steiner (FriesenPress, Altona, MB, 2023) A Celestial Biography We have all read biographies and autobiographies. Unless they are purposely written by the author to vilify the character, typical biographies usually downplay foibles, dramatize struggles, and highlight successes. Clayton’s Chronicles, by Jere Steiner is a quite different type of biography. One might say […]
Why We Hate
Why We Hate: Understanding the Roots of Human Conflict, Michael Ruse (Oxford University, New York, 2022) Over thirty-five thousand people are killed by guns every year. There has been a sharp rise in antisemitism, with threats against Jewish people near an all-time high. A six-year-old boy was brutally stabbed and killed because he was Muslim […]
The Biblical Hero
The Biblical Hero: Portraits in Nobility and Fallibility, Elliott Rabin (Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, 2020) A trip to the shopping mall or supermarket will easily convince a person that heroes are an important part of our culture—any culture, for that matter. There are miniature Wonder Women, Spidermen, Elsas, and Supermen running around everywhere. Heroes educate […]
Returning to Eden
Returning to Eden Returning to Eden: A Field Guide for the Spiritual Journey, Heather Hamilton (Quoir, Chico, CA, 2023) Heather Hamilton joins a growing number of authors who write about their transition (escape) from conservative, evangelical Christianity. Heather and her husband had long histories of leadership in evangelical congregations. This chapter of Heather’s life, however, […]
Book Review: Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday–A Novel Ash Wednesday, J. R. Mabry (Apocryphile, Hannacroix, NY, 2022). Grief is a rare topic in a work of fiction. This probably shouldn’t be a surprise. Grief is an uncomfortable topic in general conversation. It is a difficult emotion for us to face as individuals and as communities. When confronted with grief, it […]
The Aramaic Jesus
The Aramaic Jesus Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus: The Hidden Teachings of Life and Death, Neil Douglas-Klotz (Hampton Roads, Charlottsville, 2022). There is an old saying that goes, “It loses something in the translation.” Neil Douglas-Klotz would agree, and it is the main point in his book, Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus. Students of the […]