Book Review.
Garrison, Becky. Jesus Dies For This? A satirist’s search for the risen Christ. Zondervan. 2010.
B.G.- Becky is a contributing editor for Sojourners. Her writings are described as ‘odd and sundry publications’.
Comment. Henry.
The reading of this book has been my introduction to religious satirists. I must say that I am not really comfortable with that literary approach for presenting spiritual truth so the reading has been a learning curve for me. The writings and activities of religious activists and satirists probably bring some element of balance to our spiritual environment. Satire, like humour, creates discomfort and/or stress when it is used as a weapon not a tool. Becky comes from a position of Episcopalian views that are not supportive of evangelicals generally. (Billy Graham is one evangelical that is exempt from her ‘barbs’.) Her ‘search for the risen Christ’ is very genuine and that gives validity to her observations. She describes her writings as ‘patches’ of a blanket, i.e. experiences that take her literally all over the map.
On her ‘pilgrimage’ to the Holy Land Becky she focuses on the distracting commercialism that has nothing to do with historical Christianity. “Despite all the spiritual silliness that abounds throughout the Holy Land, this sacred soil smiles. Dirty... dusty... delivered. For in this grit and grime, God becomes real and revealed.” (37)
She describes the Book Expo America conference in NYC as “holy hucksters pushing the latest faith fads”. (43) During a visit to the U.K. Becky took in the “Greenbelt” (53) experience. “These services seemed more real than many of the megawatt and watered-down worship services I experienced back in the States.” (57) She visited a number of sites in Ireland that are a part of Celtic Christianity.
Becky’s ten-day press trip to Jordan during Ramadan introduced her to “a country rich in history but poor in capital”.
During her involvement at “Soularize 2007” in Florida she gained a greater appreciation for presenters like N.T.Wright, Brennan Manning and Jim Palmer.
In November 2007, Becky’s book “Rising from the Ashes: Rethinking Church”, was launched by Church Publishing at the American Academy of Religious/Society of Biblical Literature in San Diego. From the heavy weights of San Diego she moved on to sin-city Los Vegas and ended up taking in the Robert Schuller Christmas extravaganza. These were great venues for serious satire.
Becky gives us a brief look into her family history, including her challenge of growing up in a dysfunctional family and becoming an orphan at seventeen. Roger Williams who made substantial contributions to early American state/church issues and government constitutions was one of Becky’s ancestors.
Becky visits the west coast cities of Seattle and Portland. Karen Ward pastors the Church of the Apostle (COTA) that becomes a positive experience for Becky. She really puts the screws to the “Mark Driscoll Show”. In Portland some time is spent with Kurt Neilson and Saint Peter and Paul Episcopal Church. She appreciated a visit to the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, the Grotto.
On to Minneapolis with a stop at Mark Van Steenwyk’s Mission Deo “an Anabaptist lay intentional community”. (202) Back in NYC Becky covered the, “A Night of Hope with Joel & Victoria (Osteen)” in Yankee Stadium. To call this event a service, having charged $15 admission and then asking for an offering on top of that, did not sit well with our religious satirist.
Becky summarizes her writings as a “small smattering of snapshots and photos of empires that turned my stomach. What if we all took our cameras and photographed what the body of Christ looks like to each of us? That would be a slide show worth watching.” (217)
hdirksen.blogspot.com
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Byzantium.
Book Review.
Lawhead, Stephen R. Byzantium. Harper Prism. 1996.
S.L.- Born and raised in the U.S.A., moved to Great Britain to research Celtic legend. He lives in Oxford.
Comment. Henry.
It is not my intention to do a review of this novel but merely a comment of my experience as a recreational reader.
When I began my “project” of doing book reviews and sending those reviews to a group of interested readers, I received this advice from a friend in Odessa, Texas, who I have never met, who happens to be an author. “Try to avoid becoming myopic in your reading.” Reading a novel is an attempt to deal with that ‘problem’.
Here is a gripping story told by gifted story teller. The historical material is fascinating describing life in medieval times. We learn about life in an Irish monastery. The Vikings of Danish origins, the Sea Wolves, add great drama to the story. The mission of the monks takes us to the seat of power of the Holy Roman Empire, Constantinople (Byzantium) and many other interesting places.
Not only do we learn about monks and barbarians, the story line takes us deep into the devastating religious confrontation between Christianity and its militant leaders and the champions of Islam. There is ample violence, heroism, involving everything from murder to martyrdom. (These are not topics that are big on my list of things to read about.)
The reading of this novel increased my appreciation of the challenges for those who sought after justice and peace in another time and culture regardless of their religious persuasions. I.e. to hear about how people have ‘lost their faith’ is one thing, but to learn of how one’s faith has been destroyed is something else.
This experience may result in an expansion of my choice of books as I continue in one of my retirement hobbies, recreational reading.
henrydirksen.blogspot.com
Lawhead, Stephen R. Byzantium. Harper Prism. 1996.
S.L.- Born and raised in the U.S.A., moved to Great Britain to research Celtic legend. He lives in Oxford.
Comment. Henry.
It is not my intention to do a review of this novel but merely a comment of my experience as a recreational reader.
When I began my “project” of doing book reviews and sending those reviews to a group of interested readers, I received this advice from a friend in Odessa, Texas, who I have never met, who happens to be an author. “Try to avoid becoming myopic in your reading.” Reading a novel is an attempt to deal with that ‘problem’.
Here is a gripping story told by gifted story teller. The historical material is fascinating describing life in medieval times. We learn about life in an Irish monastery. The Vikings of Danish origins, the Sea Wolves, add great drama to the story. The mission of the monks takes us to the seat of power of the Holy Roman Empire, Constantinople (Byzantium) and many other interesting places.
Not only do we learn about monks and barbarians, the story line takes us deep into the devastating religious confrontation between Christianity and its militant leaders and the champions of Islam. There is ample violence, heroism, involving everything from murder to martyrdom. (These are not topics that are big on my list of things to read about.)
The reading of this novel increased my appreciation of the challenges for those who sought after justice and peace in another time and culture regardless of their religious persuasions. I.e. to hear about how people have ‘lost their faith’ is one thing, but to learn of how one’s faith has been destroyed is something else.
This experience may result in an expansion of my choice of books as I continue in one of my retirement hobbies, recreational reading.
henrydirksen.blogspot.com
Monday, September 13, 2010
Unwritten
Book Review.
Baergen, John and Lorraine. With Malcolm Petch UnWritten. There’s still hope for your greater dream. Unwritten Ventures. 2010. Printed by First Choice Books.
Comment. Henry.
Having known John and Lorraine and their family for over 25 years and been volunteers (my wife and I) at the Leadership Centre for about ten years, I found this book a most fascinating read. Our lives have been impacted by their leadership and friendship. This is a riveting story of tragedy, survival and overcoming challenges that most of us only read about. John and Lorraine have impacted thousands of people positively with their ministry. Although that ministry has had many different ‘faces’ the results have been similar. At the time of writing they have begun yet another unique ministry that marks another chapter of their productive lives.
The Baergen story centers on a horrific automobile that happened on New Year’s Day 1981 that totally changed the lives of John and Lorraine and their boys Byron and Brent. During that first week after the accident all of them were in hospital with lives hanging in a balance between life and death.
Prior to the ‘crash’ John and Lorraine were living busy lives that involved several businesses including operating a large farm in the Peace River area of Alberta. They had become involved in doing friendship evangelism through hosting home barbeques and bring in speakers to present a gospel message. Dr. Terry Winter became a frequent speaker, a trusted friend, and a spiritual mentor to them.
Lorraine spent her hospital stay in the small town of Whitecourt, two hours from Edmonton. John and the boys had been airlifted to the Royal Alex hospital in Edmonton. After being discharged Lorraine moved in with some friends in Edmonton, Jack and Carol Klemke, who lived not far from the hospital. She spent her days at the hospital.
Each member of the family had sustained severe injuries in the accident. (They were hit by a drunk driver.) Lorraine had received severe facial injuries and broken ribs. John had multiple fractures and other injuries to the extent that he was not expected to live. Byron had severe head injuries and was in a coma. Brent had a lacerated scalp and a fractured leg and pelvis. Lorraine was the first to be discharged from hospital. She had been there a week. Then Brent left hospital to live temporarily with his grandparents. He was still in a body cast. Some months later John was discharged, having to use two canes to get around. Finally, after ten months, Byron was discharged. The hospital psychologist recommended strongly that he be placed in an institution. There was no way John and Lorraine were prepared to do that.
The road to recovery and/or rehabilitation is an ongoing story of challenges, setbacks, victories and “unwritten” chapters of the Baergen experiences. Several striking chapter headings, “Silence Deafens (93) and Silence Amplifies (99)”, give some indication of the challenges they had to cope with. There were significant financial set-backs that impacted recovery. They had their share of ‘Job’s comforters’. Major obstacles in family relationships were part of recovery and adjustments.
Several years after the crash the family moved to Kelowna and a new chapter of their lives began. For a brief period John and Lorraine joined the staff of a church in Edmonton. When they returned to Kelowna they became involved in a unique ministry to church leaders across the country. They led the Leadership Development organization which for the last number of years included Willow Creek Canada. It is through this organization that they have had a significant influence on the Canadian church scene.
In recent months John and Lorraine have entered yet another chapter in their lives as they give leadership to a ministry that is appropriately named “Unwritten Ministries. The story goes on!
henrydirksen.blogspot.com
Baergen, John and Lorraine. With Malcolm Petch UnWritten. There’s still hope for your greater dream. Unwritten Ventures. 2010. Printed by First Choice Books.
Comment. Henry.
Having known John and Lorraine and their family for over 25 years and been volunteers (my wife and I) at the Leadership Centre for about ten years, I found this book a most fascinating read. Our lives have been impacted by their leadership and friendship. This is a riveting story of tragedy, survival and overcoming challenges that most of us only read about. John and Lorraine have impacted thousands of people positively with their ministry. Although that ministry has had many different ‘faces’ the results have been similar. At the time of writing they have begun yet another unique ministry that marks another chapter of their productive lives.
The Baergen story centers on a horrific automobile that happened on New Year’s Day 1981 that totally changed the lives of John and Lorraine and their boys Byron and Brent. During that first week after the accident all of them were in hospital with lives hanging in a balance between life and death.
Prior to the ‘crash’ John and Lorraine were living busy lives that involved several businesses including operating a large farm in the Peace River area of Alberta. They had become involved in doing friendship evangelism through hosting home barbeques and bring in speakers to present a gospel message. Dr. Terry Winter became a frequent speaker, a trusted friend, and a spiritual mentor to them.
Lorraine spent her hospital stay in the small town of Whitecourt, two hours from Edmonton. John and the boys had been airlifted to the Royal Alex hospital in Edmonton. After being discharged Lorraine moved in with some friends in Edmonton, Jack and Carol Klemke, who lived not far from the hospital. She spent her days at the hospital.
Each member of the family had sustained severe injuries in the accident. (They were hit by a drunk driver.) Lorraine had received severe facial injuries and broken ribs. John had multiple fractures and other injuries to the extent that he was not expected to live. Byron had severe head injuries and was in a coma. Brent had a lacerated scalp and a fractured leg and pelvis. Lorraine was the first to be discharged from hospital. She had been there a week. Then Brent left hospital to live temporarily with his grandparents. He was still in a body cast. Some months later John was discharged, having to use two canes to get around. Finally, after ten months, Byron was discharged. The hospital psychologist recommended strongly that he be placed in an institution. There was no way John and Lorraine were prepared to do that.
The road to recovery and/or rehabilitation is an ongoing story of challenges, setbacks, victories and “unwritten” chapters of the Baergen experiences. Several striking chapter headings, “Silence Deafens (93) and Silence Amplifies (99)”, give some indication of the challenges they had to cope with. There were significant financial set-backs that impacted recovery. They had their share of ‘Job’s comforters’. Major obstacles in family relationships were part of recovery and adjustments.
Several years after the crash the family moved to Kelowna and a new chapter of their lives began. For a brief period John and Lorraine joined the staff of a church in Edmonton. When they returned to Kelowna they became involved in a unique ministry to church leaders across the country. They led the Leadership Development organization which for the last number of years included Willow Creek Canada. It is through this organization that they have had a significant influence on the Canadian church scene.
In recent months John and Lorraine have entered yet another chapter in their lives as they give leadership to a ministry that is appropriately named “Unwritten Ministries. The story goes on!
henrydirksen.blogspot.com
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