Religion & Spirituality

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‘Drops Like Stars: A Few Thoughts on Creativity and Suffering’

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

drops-like-stars By: Rob Bell
Genre: Religion & Spirituality
Year: 2009

Find this book at Amazon.com

I’m new to the world of Rob Bell. He is a Christian speaker, pastor, author and creator of a video series called “NOOMA.” I’ve watched a couple of his videos (I’d watch more but I don’t have easy access to them) and have found them moving and thought-provoking. Bell is such a popular author that it’s difficult to get his books from the library.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book. I didn’t expect a picture book that took me 15 minutes to read. It’s starts out unexpectedly: There is no copyright information, there is no introduction. There is just the title pages followed by, “I know a man who has two sons.” From there, Bell begins to tell the story about suffering in this world through short sentences, stories and images.

You see, suffering causes us to take a look at the world around us. Writes Bell, “It compels us to eliminate the unnecessary, the trivial, the superficial.” Our life is full of problems and pain. From that pain we find creativity. We find community. We find Christ.

I really like Bell’s writing (and speaking) style. It’s quiet. He is a great storyteller and brings a sense of calm to this crazy, noisy world. This book is no different. Reading this book, it really did bring a sense of quiet (I was waiting for my son’s bus while reading this) to my always-anxious mind.

This isn’t a new theology to me (finding God in relationships and through suffering) and I personally would rather read something more expansive on the topic (heavy-duty stuff like Dietrich Bonhoeffer or more user-friendly stuff like Andrew Root a professor at Luther Seminary). This is a great introduction, but I would hope the reader would want to dig deeper into these concepts.

This is also an expensive picture book without the glossy paper. Published by Zondervan, the cover price on this book is $34.99. It’s an oversized, full-color book but is not printed on glossy paper. This book doesn’t feel worth $35, although the photography and layout are beautiful. (Oh, and the copyright information, introduction, table of contents and such are at the end of the book. How very artsy.)

I would like to own this book. It is a simple and elegant introduction to suffering in this world. I enjoy Bell’s voice. But I would not purchase this book new and at full-price. I believe in supporting authors but this seems a little like a vanity project the author is expecting me to pay for. Because of the lower perceived quality for cost, I’m lowering my rating.

My rating: 3 out of 4 stars

Posted in Religion & Spirituality, Review | No Responses »

‘Discipleship’

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

By: Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Year: 1937 (original, in German)
Genre: Theology, Ethics

Amazon.com summary:

“Cheap grace is the mortal enemy of our church. Our struggle today is for costly grace.” And with that sharp warning to his own church, which was engaged in bitter conflict with the official nazified state church, Dietrich Bonhoeffer began his book Discipleship (formerly entitled The Cost of Discipleship). Originally published in 1937, it soon became a classic exposition of what it means to follow Christ in a modern world beset by a dangerous and criminal government. At its center stands an interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount: what Jesus demanded of his followers-and how the life of discipleship is to be continued in all ages of the post-resurrection church. “Every call of Jesus is a call to death,” Bonhoeffer wrote. His own life ended in martyrdom on April 9, 1945. Freshly translated from the German critical edition, Discipleship provides a more accurate rendering of the text and extensive aids and commentary to clarify the meaning, context, and reception of this work and its attempt to resist the Nazi ideology then infecting German Christian churches.

This was one of my text books. And, wow.

I have read a little Bonhoeffer before and he is a challenging read. But this was some heady stuff. He begins by introducing the reader to Cheap Grace and Costly Grace. So simple and so powerful. Cheap Grace: Grace without a price. Grace is given to the sinner but nothing is changed in the sinner’s life. Costly Grace requires something. We don’t have to work for Grace, but a change is required when we receive it. And this is how the book starts.

What does it mean to follow Christ? It is not an easy road by any means. In Part One, Bonhoeffer takes apart the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew. He shows us what Christ meant in his words and how the disciple is expected to live. This is tough stuff and honestly, I know I don’t measure up (even a little). In Part Two, Bonhoeffer discusses the Church and discipleship including baptism, the saints and the image of Christ.

This is not an easy read. Don’t pick up the book and expect to be through it in a weekend. Bonhoeffer doesn’t discuss easy topics and I’ve learned that Germans like to be a little, shall we say wordy in their theology. And as much as I liked this book (and Bonhoeffer’s theology in general) he is repetitive in making his points. If written today, would this be as long? Of course, would it be as powerful either?

If you want to dig a little deeper into what it means to be a disciple and why Grace must be a Costly Grace, this is a must-read. I would suggest learning a little more about Bonhoeffer’s life, as well, if you can. He acted as a double agent against Hitler and the Nazis and was eventually killed for his actions. His actions as a disciple are as interesting as his writings.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Posted in 4 Stars, Ethics, Religion & Spirituality, Review, Theology | No Responses »

Someone thinks I have interesting things to say…

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

Well, actually I think she was just in a bind and I was there.

I’m a student at Luther Seminary. The communications office (where I work as a graphic designer) has multiple students blog about what life is like at Luther (I’m sure it’s purely a coincidence the blog is called “Life@Luther“), especially for prospective students. I’ve always enjoyed reading the entries and secretly wished they’d asked me to blog, too.

Finally my boss, Laura, really did ask. She acted like she was really hoping I’d say yes, but I think they just needed someone who fit a vague demographic I happen to fill (part-time, commuter, older married student mother who is working towards her Master of Art degree in Children, Youth and Family ministry. I’m sure you can’t spit on campus without finding someone just like that!).

Truth is, I’m nervous. Here, when I post a new entry, I think I have an average of four people who read the blog. One of them is my husband and he will always tell me I’m doing a great job because that’s the kind of man he is. But I know a lot of people from around the country read the Life@Luther blog. Eek. Stop by and read the blog (hopefully you will find me witty and engaging and all feel that Luther is the place to be!) , including the other authors (though I’d like to remain your favorite). I will be posting at least once a week, but I think a personal goal will be twice a week.

My rating: Eeek out of Eeek!

Posted in Religion & Spirituality, Site News | No Responses »

‘Crazy Talk: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms’

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

By: Rolf A. Jacobson, Editor
Year: 2008
Genre: Religion & Spirituality

Amazon.com summary:

So much theology is confusing and intimidating. The concepts themselves are given weighty-sounding names, such as incarnation and justification, and the explanations of the concepts sometimes can be more confusing than the names.

Captivating, entertaining, and highly informative, Crazy Talk helps readers navigate their way through that complexity and offers a vocabulary that dares—and equips!—its readers to embrace their own faith in a new, well-informed way.

The purpose of Crazy Talk, says author Rolf Jacobson, is to render the heart of our Christian theology in a form that is accessible and appealing to everyone. The format of the book is similar to that of a dictionary of theological terms—but with a twist of humor! Each entry includes the name of the theological term, an ironic definition of the term, and a short humorous essay offering a fuller explanation of the term. In making the term understandable, Jacobson concentrates on the big theological issue that is at stake in the term – and why it matters. Includes over 50 black and white illustrations.

Okay, well, I’m a little behind on new book reading because this reading for class is killing me! So I’m going through my bookshelf to offer some of my favorite books for your reading pleasure!

In the interest of full disclosure, editor Rolf Jacobson is one of the professors at Luther Seminary. I took a class from him last spring. This book is fantastic on it’s own, though. Jacobson and his crew are funny and irreverent (and in case you haven’t figured it out, I love irreverent). I use this book a lot in my personal life and in my ministry work. This is the kind of book you pick up, read a couple entries and set it down. You will laugh out loud and—gasp—learn a little something about theology.

There is no doubt this book has a Lutheran bent to the definitions, especially since Jacobson is an ordained pastor in the ELCA and the other authors are his students (who I believe became pastors in the ELCA). But for those who are not Lutherans, this is still an entertaining way to learn some of the terminology that the religiously-learned like to toss around (justification, sanctification, rapture and anticrist) without clearly explaining. It’s also a good book for those who may not have their own beliefs in God. If you really want to understand what you don’t believe in, read up on it. And if you’re reading up on it, you might as well be laughing while you do so.

I’ve actually ended up purchasing three copies of this book. I bought two, one for me and one to give to a friend of my mom’s. But the copy I bought for myself disappeared and it was a while before I realized it had been snatched by my mom. So I had to buy a third copy. But it was worth it and I suggest finding a copy for yourself.

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Posted in 5 Stars, Religion & Spirituality, Review, Theology | No Responses »

New Book!

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

Okay, the library is a great place because you can read so many different things free. No worries if I don’t like it, I can just return it no hassles. The kids can browse to their heart’s content and I don’t have say “no” to them. They each have their own library cards and can get what they want (and as much as it as they want).

But, there is nothing like a brand new book: Being the first one to open it up, turn the pages, smell the printing. I love a new book. In fact I love new books so much that I’ve had to cut down on my new book purchases because I don’t have anywhere to put a book I’m only going to read once. I will buy a lot of books for my career, though.

What I’ve never done, though, is pre-order a book. Until last night. I pre-ordered the book “Relationships Unfiltered: Help for Youth Workers, Volunteers and Parents on Creating Authentic Relationships” by Andrew Root. Root is a professor at Luther Seminary, teaching in the program I am currently in. I have been fortunate to take several classes from him and am currently registered to take another one in the fall.

I won’t receive the book for another couple weeks, but I plan to read it quickly. I’ll let you know what I think, but it sounds like something that will be great in my career. Stay tuned!

Posted in Favorite Author, New Book, Religion & Spirituality, Site News | No Responses »

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