'Your God is too Small' is a classic book by JB Phillips. It's 50 years old now but still relevant to today's church. It's in two parts: the first outlines several ways in which people misunderstand God, seeing him perhaps as purely a negative authority, or perhaps (at the other extreme) a cuddly refuge. He explains 12 such misconceptions in some detail. The second half of the book looks at who God really is, and what we learn from Jesus.
Phillips is sometimes criticised for his theology, but I can't fault this book other than perhaps being a bit short. Then again, it was quite thought-provoking, and I found that I didn't want to read more than about ten pages at a time, so perhaps it's just as well that it was only 126 pages.
Recommended to anyone - Christian or not - who wants to know more about how people see God, contrasted with who we believe he really is.
Longer thoughts about this book are on my Abstractions blog.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
The Scent of Water (by Alison Hoblyn)
'The Scent of Water' is a novel by Alison Hoblyn, published by Transita who specialise in heartwarming stories about 'older' women. It's not to be confused by the book of the same title by Elizabeth Goudge!
Ellie, an artist in her late forties who is recovering from the unexpected death of her husband, enrolls on a course in Italy to learn about creative gardening. She makes new friends who have a lasting impact on her life, as she gradually comes to terms with the past.
The first half of the book takes place during the course, including some interesting descriptions of visits to spectacular gardens. The author is herself an artist, and her love of art comes across clearly in many ways. By the time the action moves back to the UK, Ellie is established as an independent and likeable woman who dearly loves her two grown-up children. Life has not been kind to her but she makes the most of it, enjoying simple pleasures and taking comfort from her Christian faith.
The story unfolds slowly and gently, on the whole, making this a pleasant and undemanding read, although some of the themes are not light. There are one or two shocking moments, though nothing graphic; but mostly the mood is mellow, in realistic settings. It was very readable, but easy to put down, and I had no inclination to read more than a chapter or so each evening.(You can also read my longer review at The Bookbag)Sunday, February 18, 2007
Things to Make and Mend (by Ruth Thomas)
'Things to Make and Mend' is a lovely, gentle novel by Ruth Thomas. It features Sally and Rowena, two women in their forties, who were 'best friends' in their teens and yet have been estranged for nearly thirty years.
The novel is told from the perspective of both these women, alternating past and present as the story slowly moves forward to an inevitable reconciliation, and the past is gradually unfolded.
Themes are explored along the way, such as the nature of friendship, betrayal, class consciosness and teenage pregnancy, but the whole is a lovely blend of nostalgia and storytelling. I enjoyed odd observations about school life in the 1970s, many of which could have come straight from my own secondary school.
It took a while to get into the story, although I loved the style from the beginning, and I thought the end a little too abrupt - but all in all, an enjoyable book.
For some reason, this does not seem to be published in the USA.
My longer review of 'Things to Make and Mend' is here at The Bookbag site.
The novel is told from the perspective of both these women, alternating past and present as the story slowly moves forward to an inevitable reconciliation, and the past is gradually unfolded.
Themes are explored along the way, such as the nature of friendship, betrayal, class consciosness and teenage pregnancy, but the whole is a lovely blend of nostalgia and storytelling. I enjoyed odd observations about school life in the 1970s, many of which could have come straight from my own secondary school.
It took a while to get into the story, although I loved the style from the beginning, and I thought the end a little too abrupt - but all in all, an enjoyable book.
For some reason, this does not seem to be published in the USA.
My longer review of 'Things to Make and Mend' is here at The Bookbag site.
The Healthy Alternative (by John Houghton)
'The Healthy Alternative', written in the mid-80s by John Houghton, is a fictional look at two different worldviews and their methods of finding greater health and wholeness. One of the main characters is a Christian, another a New Ager. They're taken to various places by someone known as The Courier, and frequently accompanied by an angel.
They attend some lectures and observe some of the worst side of life towards the end of the 20th century, agreeing that many people are less than healthy, and that materialism is not the answer to anything. Both the Christian and the New Ager tend to eat balanced diets and look at some alternative medicine as well as conventional, and both acknowledge that the world is not merely what we see and touch.
But of course they diverge when it comes to finding a solution to mankind's problems. Each chapter looks (basically) at one facet of health, and compares the different approaches.
It was probably a good idea at the time although reading it 20 years later, I didn't find anything new. Possibly useful to someone (like another of the characters) who is dissatisfied with conventional medicine, and finds the church unhelpful, as there are warnings against some of the more occult forms of alternative healing. On the whole I thought the Christian worldview was presented fairly and in a reasonably balanced way, although no doubt people from a Pagan or New Age background would disagree!
Out of print in the UK, and not available at all in the USA.
They attend some lectures and observe some of the worst side of life towards the end of the 20th century, agreeing that many people are less than healthy, and that materialism is not the answer to anything. Both the Christian and the New Ager tend to eat balanced diets and look at some alternative medicine as well as conventional, and both acknowledge that the world is not merely what we see and touch.
But of course they diverge when it comes to finding a solution to mankind's problems. Each chapter looks (basically) at one facet of health, and compares the different approaches.
It was probably a good idea at the time although reading it 20 years later, I didn't find anything new. Possibly useful to someone (like another of the characters) who is dissatisfied with conventional medicine, and finds the church unhelpful, as there are warnings against some of the more occult forms of alternative healing. On the whole I thought the Christian worldview was presented fairly and in a reasonably balanced way, although no doubt people from a Pagan or New Age background would disagree!
Out of print in the UK, and not available at all in the USA.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Scuba Dancing (by Nicola Slade)
'Scuba Dancing' is a novel by Nicola Slade from the publisher Transita, who tend to produce books about older women.
The opening sentence was intriguing - a rather unappealing woman is visited by an angel in a grocer's - but I found the book, in general, disappointing. It was written in the style of 'chick-lit' with lots of action, far more characters than I could remember, and a bizarre plot that centred around a group of lonely people fund-raising for a dubious cause.
Chick-lit generally appeals to younger women (in their late teens or twenties) but I don't think this book would, as the youngest characters were in their forties. But older women - I would have thought - would be less inclined to enjoy a book that made light of serious issues such as divorce, unfaithfulness, and senility. It seems to be popular in other circles but it was really not my kind of book at all.
The opening sentence was intriguing - a rather unappealing woman is visited by an angel in a grocer's - but I found the book, in general, disappointing. It was written in the style of 'chick-lit' with lots of action, far more characters than I could remember, and a bizarre plot that centred around a group of lonely people fund-raising for a dubious cause.
Chick-lit generally appeals to younger women (in their late teens or twenties) but I don't think this book would, as the youngest characters were in their forties. But older women - I would have thought - would be less inclined to enjoy a book that made light of serious issues such as divorce, unfaithfulness, and senility. It seems to be popular in other circles but it was really not my kind of book at all.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Miracle in the Mirror (by Mark Butain)
'Miracle in the Mirror' is a fairly short biography written by the late Mark Buntain. It features Nita Edwards, a remarkable lady from Sri Lanka who was seriously injured by a fall when she was a student, and became paralysed. She lost all sense of feeling, and there was little hope for her as the paralysis crept gradually higher and higher in her body. After a year in hospital, she could not move at all and needed a constant care assistant.
Yet she was healed, miraculously. The non-Christian doctors who had attended her refused to accept it, but thousands of people had seen Nita strapped to a wheelchair, with deformed hands and her head uncontrollable, unable even to talk - and then saw her, just a few days later, walking with ease, and talking about what God had done for her.
Skeptics may scoff, and those who believe God does not heal today may be cynical. But there's no reason to doubt this remarkably testimony which was witnessed by so many. Nita Edwards went on to be a tremendous witness for Christ in Asia.
The writing felt a little stilted in places; perhaps it's just because this book was written in the early 1980s, just a few years after the healing, when this was a typical style for biographies.
But the story is so gripping that the style hardly mattered. Even though it was obvious what was coming - even down to the date of the healing, which Nita knew in advance - it was difficult to put this book down by about two-thirds of the way through.
It's not in print any more, but can sometimes be found second-hand. Both the British and American Amazon online stores have copies - see the links at the top and to the right.
Yet she was healed, miraculously. The non-Christian doctors who had attended her refused to accept it, but thousands of people had seen Nita strapped to a wheelchair, with deformed hands and her head uncontrollable, unable even to talk - and then saw her, just a few days later, walking with ease, and talking about what God had done for her.
Skeptics may scoff, and those who believe God does not heal today may be cynical. But there's no reason to doubt this remarkably testimony which was witnessed by so many. Nita Edwards went on to be a tremendous witness for Christ in Asia.
The writing felt a little stilted in places; perhaps it's just because this book was written in the early 1980s, just a few years after the healing, when this was a typical style for biographies.
But the story is so gripping that the style hardly mattered. Even though it was obvious what was coming - even down to the date of the healing, which Nita knew in advance - it was difficult to put this book down by about two-thirds of the way through.
It's not in print any more, but can sometimes be found second-hand. Both the British and American Amazon online stores have copies - see the links at the top and to the right.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Love in the Present Tense (by Catherine Ryan Hyde)
'Love in the Present Tense' is an interesting modern novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
Leonard is a remarkable child even at five years old when the main part of the story starts. His mother Pearl, who had him when she was only thirteen, is pretty amazing too. Street-wise, almost obsessively clean and tidy, and an intuitively good mother despite her extreme youth.
The novel opens as Pearl, seven years old, watches someone dying outside her house. Then moves us forward to the night when Leonard is conceived, when she herself commits murder.
Then we meet Mitch. It took me awhile to get into the style of the novel, which is told in short chapters by three different people: Pearl, Leonard, and Mitch, who is their next-door neighbour. He relates the first time he meets Leonard, seeing a small but very intelligent child
with thick glasses and an asthma inhaler. He becomes his child-minder when Pearl has to work. Mitch is straightforward and basically honest - other than being deep in a secret affair with a
married woman - and I liked him immediately. He recognises something of a kindred spirit in Leonard, and Pearl instinctively trusts him.
Pearl vanishes and Leonard is convinced she's dead. Mitch is never quite certain, though, and I did wonder - once or twice - whether she would suddenly appear from jail (she did, after all, murder someone) or a kidnapping. But Leonard is perfectly content to stay with Mitch, and then to live with some foster parents for a while.
The novel is very well put together, with a tidy conclusion, and by the time I was about half-way through it was difficult to put down. It's a book that I'll probably think about off and on during the next few weeks, because Leonard and Mitch have undoubtedly got under my
skin.
My somewhat longer review of 'Love in the Present Tense' is here at The Bookbag.
Leonard is a remarkable child even at five years old when the main part of the story starts. His mother Pearl, who had him when she was only thirteen, is pretty amazing too. Street-wise, almost obsessively clean and tidy, and an intuitively good mother despite her extreme youth.
The novel opens as Pearl, seven years old, watches someone dying outside her house. Then moves us forward to the night when Leonard is conceived, when she herself commits murder.
Then we meet Mitch. It took me awhile to get into the style of the novel, which is told in short chapters by three different people: Pearl, Leonard, and Mitch, who is their next-door neighbour. He relates the first time he meets Leonard, seeing a small but very intelligent child
with thick glasses and an asthma inhaler. He becomes his child-minder when Pearl has to work. Mitch is straightforward and basically honest - other than being deep in a secret affair with a
married woman - and I liked him immediately. He recognises something of a kindred spirit in Leonard, and Pearl instinctively trusts him.
Pearl vanishes and Leonard is convinced she's dead. Mitch is never quite certain, though, and I did wonder - once or twice - whether she would suddenly appear from jail (she did, after all, murder someone) or a kidnapping. But Leonard is perfectly content to stay with Mitch, and then to live with some foster parents for a while.
The novel is very well put together, with a tidy conclusion, and by the time I was about half-way through it was difficult to put down. It's a book that I'll probably think about off and on during the next few weeks, because Leonard and Mitch have undoubtedly got under my
skin.
My somewhat longer review of 'Love in the Present Tense' is here at The Bookbag.
Monday, February 05, 2007
How do you say 'I Love you'? (by Judson Swihart)
'How do you say, "I love you"?' is a short but useful book by Judson Swihart. In under 100 pages he describes eight 'love languages': helping, meeting emotional needs, touch, words, being on the same side, spending time together, meeting material needs and bringing out the best.
His claim is that for any individual, two or three of these 'languages' will be fluent, with one as the most important, and others will be far less used. This can create problems in a relationship if, for instance, the husband believes that love is best shown by meeting material needs, helping and touch, while the wife believes love is best shown by words, spending time together and being on the same side. The husband in such a situation may work long hours to earn plenty of money to buy his wife presents to show how much he love her - yet she will not understand the message as she longs instead to spend time together talking and really doesn't care about material gifts.
The point of the book is not to show that some people are incompatible, but to assist anyone to have better communication, first by figuring out what language their loved ones speak, and secondly by learning to speak and understand that language for what it is.
I'd read this before many years ago, and found it a useful refresher. Definitely recommended, particularly for anyone having difficulty communicating with those they love.
Not currently in print in either the UK or USA, but 'How do you say "I love you?"' can sometimes be found second-hand, for instance from Amazon - see links here and above.
His claim is that for any individual, two or three of these 'languages' will be fluent, with one as the most important, and others will be far less used. This can create problems in a relationship if, for instance, the husband believes that love is best shown by meeting material needs, helping and touch, while the wife believes love is best shown by words, spending time together and being on the same side. The husband in such a situation may work long hours to earn plenty of money to buy his wife presents to show how much he love her - yet she will not understand the message as she longs instead to spend time together talking and really doesn't care about material gifts.
The point of the book is not to show that some people are incompatible, but to assist anyone to have better communication, first by figuring out what language their loved ones speak, and secondly by learning to speak and understand that language for what it is.
I'd read this before many years ago, and found it a useful refresher. Definitely recommended, particularly for anyone having difficulty communicating with those they love.
Not currently in print in either the UK or USA, but 'How do you say "I love you?"' can sometimes be found second-hand, for instance from Amazon - see links here and above.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Uphill All the Way (by Sue Moorcroft)
'Uphill all the way' is a moving modern novel by Sue Moorcroft.
Fifty-one-year-old Judith is getting a bit anxious because Giorgio is late home. His mobile phone is not being answered. She tries to convince herself that he's just called into the pub with some mates, but it's quickly evident that something terrible has happened to him.
So she packs her bags and returns to her native England, staying initially with her loving but somewhat rritating sister Molly. Judith's own house has been rented out and she knows she has to give two months' notice to Adam, the guy living there. But she's not sure how long she can stand living with Molly. What's more, she needs to find a job.
Judith's family are all well-drawn and believable, each with their own problems which impact on her. Adam, by contrast, is the ideal friend in need. He's there when Judith wants him, making no demands or criticisms, allowing her to complain as much as she wants, and then cry on his shoulder.
I found the book thought-provoking, too. The themes of love, recovery from grief and forgiveness are strong. Judith has to let go of the past in many ways, and has to find out whether she can let go of her love of Malta, too. All in all, I thought this an excellent book and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Highly recommended.
My longer review of 'Uphill all the Way' is here at The Bookbag.
Fifty-one-year-old Judith is getting a bit anxious because Giorgio is late home. His mobile phone is not being answered. She tries to convince herself that he's just called into the pub with some mates, but it's quickly evident that something terrible has happened to him.
So she packs her bags and returns to her native England, staying initially with her loving but somewhat rritating sister Molly. Judith's own house has been rented out and she knows she has to give two months' notice to Adam, the guy living there. But she's not sure how long she can stand living with Molly. What's more, she needs to find a job.
Judith's family are all well-drawn and believable, each with their own problems which impact on her. Adam, by contrast, is the ideal friend in need. He's there when Judith wants him, making no demands or criticisms, allowing her to complain as much as she wants, and then cry on his shoulder.
I found the book thought-provoking, too. The themes of love, recovery from grief and forgiveness are strong. Judith has to let go of the past in many ways, and has to find out whether she can let go of her love of Malta, too. All in all, I thought this an excellent book and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Highly recommended.
My longer review of 'Uphill all the Way' is here at The Bookbag.
God's Madcap (by Nancy E Robbins - biography of Amy Camichael)
'God's Madcap' is an autobiography of Amy Carmichael, written for children by Nancy E Robbins. It's a short book - under 100 pages - containing a brief outline of Amy Carmichael's life and ministry in India in the early part of the 20th century.
It opens with Amy's huge family having a birthday party for her in her old age, then takes us back to her childhood in Northern Ireland. She was in a fairly well-off family, but always interested in those less fortunate than herself. The book describes her first experiments in prayer as she started to wonder whether God existed or not, and her gradual growth and calling.
There are a few author asides here and there that would probably seem very 'preachy' to today's children, but it's an interesting story albeit slightly stilted here and there. Not currently in print, but available from both UK and US Amazon online second-hand.
It opens with Amy's huge family having a birthday party for her in her old age, then takes us back to her childhood in Northern Ireland. She was in a fairly well-off family, but always interested in those less fortunate than herself. The book describes her first experiments in prayer as she started to wonder whether God existed or not, and her gradual growth and calling.
There are a few author asides here and there that would probably seem very 'preachy' to today's children, but it's an interesting story albeit slightly stilted here and there. Not currently in print, but available from both UK and US Amazon online second-hand.
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