Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Legacy, The Giving Of Life's Greatest Treasures.


Book Review.

Greiff, Barrie, Sandford. M.D.  Legacy, the Giving of Life’s Greatest Treasures.   Loving, learning, laboring, laughing, lamenting, linking, living, leading, and learning. ** (The ingredients of Legacy.)  Regan Books. 1999.

B.G. - conducts a private practice (psychiatry) and is a consultant to numerous business organizations.

Comment.

What a fine resource of practical wisdom about legacy from a professional counsellor who has drawn from his experiences and  has shared some wonderful stories from real life to help us get a balanced prospective about legacy.  I enjoyed my read of this book and received encouragement as I reflected on my own ‘legacy’.  I shall make sure my ‘inheritors’ hear about this one.

Noteworthy quotes from the Prologue and Introduction:  “We are all touched by the ocean, (of knowledge) yet we all remain on the shore.”  “What I know remains far greater than what I don’t know.”  “How he dies and how much he has gained is not the measure of a man but how he lived and how much he gave.”  “Eight themes play themselves over and over again in the music of people’s lives.” **  

“Self-love opens us to lasting relationships.  It allows us to trust and care and share.” (36)  Giving it away is a life-time job. 

Learning is much more than right answers and good grades.  “Wisdom (the result of learning) transcends disciplinary boundaries.” (48)  It is discovered.  “It’s what we learn, after we know it all that really counts.” (68)

In an ever changing world we must understand that rewarding work will involve risk.  “Above all we need to bear in mind that work remains at the center of a spiritual commodity.” (83)

“Laughing and lamenting restore our souls as we move through life.” (91)  Good relationships are all about linkage at significant levels.  “A life lived well is a life of risk (while) understanding the laws of opportunity and probability.” (143)

Leading is the ability to connect ideas to people, to inspire people, and then move these inspired people in the right direction.  “There is no crisis of leadership in this country- there is a crisis in the way we think of leadership.” (157)  “A leadership seminar does not make a leader.” (159)

We all experience loss (leaving) but those experiences are very personal (unique).  We are survivors by nature.  Losing is one of the risks of loving.  “With every good-bye you learn.” (198)

“Legacy is –a personal audit we construct around our own individual experiences as we exercise the right ‘elements’.” ** (203)

henrydirksen.blogspot.com 

                                                                                                           

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Who Is This Man?


Book Review.

Ortberg, John.  Who Is This Man?  The unpredictable impact of the inescapable Jesus.  Zondervan, 2012.  Forward by Condoleezza Rice.

Comment.  Henry.

The list of endorsements is quite impressive.  Condoleezza make this assessment.  “The real power of this book is in its exploration of the paradox of our faith: the acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ is not a pathway to an easy life but a call to do the hard things if we are to live in the image of our Lord.”  John has done some very thorough research to support his presentation.  Good stuff!

John begins with an intense overview of the historical influence of Jesus during the last two millenniums.  None other has had a world influence that comes close to the influence that Jesus had. 

Jesus “entered the world with no dignity.” (21)  Herod was an example of Roman dignity.  Jesus was responsible for the complete collapse of that kind of dignity.  His criteria for dignity was, ‘become like a child’. 

Jesus began “a revolt in humanity” (33) when he explained what it meant for man/woman to be made in the image of God.  John tackles the delicate topic of the identity of woman.  In the account of Jesus’ interaction with Mary and Martha “Jesus was inviting women to be His disciples”. (54)

According to the Greco-Roman standards of greatness, Jesus certainly didn’t qualify for greatness.  He modeled humility and servant hood.  His command to ‘love your enemies’ was very counter cultural.  It still is. 

The disciple John gives a clear perspective of the kingdom of God as taught by Christ and compares it to the kingdom of this world, i.e. Caesar’s.

 The good life is taught in the Sermon on the Mount.  The good person is modeled by Jesus.  “The Person who changed marriage in the Western world more than anyone else was Himself never married.” (149)  His life has had a huge impact on the arts. 

“Who is this man?”  Heaven and earth intersect in Him.  “Humanity and divinity somehow intersect in this one man.” (200)  “All roads meet; all threads are woven together in the tapestry of this life.” (201)

henrydirksen.blogspot.com 

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Letters to Myself on Dying.


Book Review.

Vos Myrth.  Letters to Myself on Dying.  A journal of hope, pain, & courage.  Baker Books 1999.

Comment. Henry.

What attracted me to this title on the library shelf was my previous read of “What Dying People Want” by David Kuhl.  What Myrth shares focuses more on what she, a dying person experienced but her ‘wants’ are not difficult to understand.  Not surprisingly her experience is in so many ways a spiritual, psychological, and emotional roller coaster.  She is an evangelical Christian.  She has been a marriage and family psychotherapist in practice for nearly twenty years. Her husband is a pastor.  They live in Barrie, Ontario.

Myrth was diagnosed with cancer in 1982, 1990, and 1996.  The third diagnosis revealed terminal lung cancer.  She decided to journal her journey.  This book is the result of that journey.  It spans a time period from April 22, 1998 till April 22, 1999.  There are Scriptures included in each entry which relate to the issues that are being dealt with.  The months become ‘chapter divisions’.

The information about the discovery of the cancer as a result of a cat-scan came through a telephone call from Myrth’s doctor.  She and her husband processed the information on their own and then gradually began to share their tragedy with an expanding circle of family and friends.  

Very early on in her experience Myrth shares about her struggles of making a practical application of her faith.  It is really a struggle (conflict) between heart and head, faith and reality, etc.  The material for her ‘letters’ comes from intense studies of Scripture as she seeks for answers to her questions.  In all this she is receiving huge support from her husband, family, and friends. 

There isn’t any area of her life that is not impacted by this journey of terminal cancer.  There seems to be an amazing ‘yo-yo’ element in her experience which adds ongoing stress.  At one point test results show evidence of the disappearance of tumors thanks to treatments.  However in short order new areas of infection appear and so it goes.  The mountains and valleys of spiritual victory continue.  The process of deterioration continues with its corresponding debilitation and agony.  The journaling comes to an end exactly one year after it was begun.  The story is obviously not over and there are no ‘follow-up’ comments about the actual end of Myrth’s life.  And so the book becomes a source of focus on an important ‘chapter’ of dealing with dying. 

henrydirksen.blogspot.com 

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Being Catholic Now


Book Review. 

Kennedy,  Kerry.  Being Catholic Now.  Prominent Americans talk about change in the Church and the quest for meaning.  Crown Publishing.  2008

Kerry-  Daughter of Robert Kennedy.

Comment.  Henry.

My first response after reading this book was to reflect on my own change of understanding and opinion of the Catholic Church.  Being raised as a fundamentalist there was not much charity in the spiritual status of the Catholic Church.  It was portrayed as being unbiblical in its doctrine and practice.  There is still some misunderstanding and/or lack of understanding for me.  I have a better, more charitable attitude about ecumenicalism.  When I hear my pastor son talk about his Catholic friend, an ordained pastor  who is as evangelical as can be I realize there have been huge changes in Catholicism and Protestantism.

For the contents of this book Kerry has interviewed 38 individuals who are have been influenced by Catholicism.  They range from very strong supporters (clergy) to some who have actually left the Catholic Church for various reasons.  In her ‘Preface’ Kerry speaks at length about her own personal experience.  I found this the most engaging and informative section of the book. 

Kerry has been very forthright and transparent in her presentation of positives and negatives of the Church.  The Church has a great track record as an agency of social justice and providing for the needy, world-wide.  Probably the most negative issue for the Church has been the accusations and substantiation of abuse by some of the clergy. 

The strength of the Church is its tradition.  “Once a Catholic, always a Catholic.” The training of children in the doctrine and practice of Catholicism is a strong foundation of this tradition.   It is in this area where there has also been a serious vulnerability. 

To me this was a very informative read.

henrydirksen.blogspot.com

Monday, November 5, 2012

Red Letter Revolution


Book Review.

Claiborne, Shane.  Campolo, Tony.  Red Letter Revolution.  What if Jesus really meant what He said?  Thomas Nelson.

Comment.  Henry.

In recent history we have been introduced to religious designations such as ‘fundamentalists’ and ‘evangelicals’.  Shane and Tony are suggesting a new designation for those who consider the words of Christ in the New Testament as exclusively important.  They should go by the name “Red Letter Christians”.  This book consists of dialogues that Tony and Shane have on specific contemporary topics and how they feel Christ may have and did express Himself.  I found this a thought-provoking read.

The historical significance of fundamentalism and evangelicalism are discussed.  There is a great need for the church to return to the focus on community that characterized the early church.  In spite of the imperfections of the local church, as Christians we do not have the option of abandoning it.  We do well to review the contributions of the Saints.  The ‘dialogues’ on Islam and economics contain material for much thought.

The text that is used to discuss family is Mark 3: 31-35.  To Christ, family went way beyond biological family.  To be pro-life regarding abortion and euthanasia but supportive of the death penalty and war is an inconsistent position for a Christian.  Environmentalism is seen as a pro-life issue.  To differentiate gifting (including leadership) between men and women is unbiblical.  Our culture’s image of women is totally wrong.  “Racism- a system of advantage based on race- is wrong.” (120)   There needs to be a demonstration of love when sexual orientation is being discussed.  Hating the sin and loving the sinner seems to leave the discussion without resolution.  A case is made, with Scriptural support (of course) for civil disobedience.  Giving, in North American churches, is disproportionate because of the huge cost of maintaining the institution. 

America is showing strong signs of being a modern Babylon.  Politics must be practiced with compassion not just economics.  A distinction is made between “non-violent resistance to evil and pacifism”. (193)  There is a cost to peace-making.  Some serious objections are raised about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with reference to Israel’s policies and how they impact Palestinian citizens, especially some Christians.  The exhortation for unity implies a need for serious reconciliation between groups within the church that are ‘worlds apart’.  Too much of what has been done in the name of missions has in fact focused on “dis-empowering” (242) those to whom the gospel has been preached.  There is not enough emphasis on indigenous leadership and culture.  The resurrected life is really life in a new earth with a new heaven.  It is hoped that the “Red Letter Christian movement will continue to be a positive irritant in the church”. (258)

henrydirksen.blogspot.com