Loving God by Charles Colson

I had read this book years ago at the time in my life where I was working on a commitment to God.  I say working on because for me it was a process~ not a one day conversion.  I look back on that season and clearly see how God was pursuing me.  It was a relief that my rebellious nature didn't thwart God; my mother can attest to the fact that rebellion was engrained in me from day 1.  I received what I'm sure was a God-given eagerness to learn and understand that Christianity was more than church attendance.  Loving God is a great book for Christians & non-Christians alike who seek to understand that faith is about having a personal relationship with God.  I love this book for two reasons.  For one, Colson outlines basic principles of following God.  He includes obedience, repentance, belief that the word of God is inerrant, desire for holy living, and membership in the body of believers.  Do I sense you are mentally checking out because this sounds dull?  I can assure you that this is no bland theology book.  The second reason I love it is because he illustrates each of these principles with a wide variety of testimonies.  If you have ever read or heard someone's testimony, you know firsthand that it has a powerful effect.  A testimony can encourage faith to grow. It can draw people to the Lord who have believed they are too inadequate or broken to become a Christian.  It has the power to unite us with other believers who share the same struggles and triumphs in the faith.  The beauty of sharing godly principles through personal stories is that it illustrates how God calls everyone not to be perfect but to accept his loving ability to make us perfect in spite of our sinful nature.

Some of the stories which stood out to me belonged to Augustine, a Hollywood gangster, a Russian prisoner, an elderly widow, and a corrupt politician (who also happens to be the author).  It might interest you to know that Charles Colson came to Christ while he was serving a sentence in prison for his participation in Nixon's Watergate scandal.  Once released from incarceration, he began Prison Fellowship, a ministry that leads inmates to Christ.  While speaking in a prison chapel, Colson reflects on his, "...scholarships and honors earned, cases argued and won, great decisions made from lofty government offices.  [His] life had been the perfect success story, the great American dream fulfilled.  But all at once [he] realized that it was not [his]success God had used to enable [him] to help those in this prison... No, the real legacy of [his] life was [his] biggest failure-- that [he] was an ex-convict.  [His] greatest humiliation-- being sent to prison-- was the beginning of God's greatest use of [his] life; He chose the one experience in which [he] could not glory for His glory."  I don't know how to explain it, but these words resonated with me deeply.  In my own life, it has been my lowest points that God has used to transform my life for the better.    Don't worry; I'm not going to spill my testimony beans in this book review.  I just wanted to convey how meaningful this book was to me as a seeker and still is to this day.

I will tell you that this book was written nearly 30 years ago (before I was even born) and may seem dated to some.  I think there are some timeless qualities to each story in spite of when they took place.  I'm glad I reread it because I was having a hard time remembering why it was so important to me.  I'd recommend it to anyone.  Colson's writing style is easy; it feels like a conversation.  You can tell by the references he makes to other great Christian thinkers that he is enthusiastic about learning theology and the history of our faith.  It's also a pretty quick read because the stories aren't terribly long.  If you'd like to borrow a copy, I'd gladly lend you mine.

What To Expect When You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff

How does one write a book review on the encyclopedia of pregnancy?  This book is a must-have for first time moms-to-be.  It outlines month by month the baby's development, changes in your body, tests and exams to expect from your physician, and frequently asked questions.  There are sections about high risk pregnancies, tips for dads, postpartum and recovery, and multiples.  Throughout the book, you'll find tips on nutrition, exercise, and various ways to care for yourself and your baby in this season. 

My husband and I would read the weekly development updates together on Sunday nights.  It was something we really enjoyed sharing and talking about on a weekly basis (like when baby's heart started beating, when he opened his eyes for the first time, etc).  If you are looking to get this book, I'd recommend a newer edition (mine is 4th edition).  I flipped through a ten year old copy and didn't like the format nearly as much.  It has been so helpful in confirming symptoms for me and teaching us about our baby that we went out and got What To Expect The First Year.

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

In a mere matter of days I will experience the gift of childbirth.  My son is due on Sunday, and in preparation for his arrival I read this book.  It was recommended to me by a number of women who are into natural birthing (re: minimal/limited medical intervention).  Ina May is a midwife who lives in a community in Tennessee called the Farm where women from all over the country come to prepare and enjoy labor and delivery.  The first half of the book consists of testimonies from the women who had children on the Farm.  The second half of the book Ina May discusses her philosophy on childbirth including techniques and research to promote minimal intervention in labor. 

I'd like to start with the second section of the book for reviewing.  I found it highly informative and interesting to learn about natural birth from such an expert.  She walks the reader through the connection between the mind and body during labor (if you're stressed or scared, your muscles tighten up and you may slow the dilation process).  Unassisted by painkillers, it is important to remember to relax throughout labor.  Gaskin also discusses female anatomy~ not going as far to say we were designed to give birth, but certainly that can be inferred from what she writes.  She approaches the female body by describing that it is capable and ready to do the task at hand (or bottom rather).  She also encourages healthy and intuitive (though not always conventional) ways to encourage the baby out of the womb.  These range from walking (using gravity to help you) to manipulating a laboring woman's bosom to speed up labor (like with nursing, this promotes the body to release oxytocin which causes uterine contractions).  Some of it was super odd and made my modest self blush, but I suppose I was glad to learn all this new information.

Ina May often seems to be refuting the assumption that pregnancy is an illness (according to her, medical students are taught pregnancy in terms of pathology).  At times I think she is too critical of obstetricians and hospitals, and I dislike how she tells the worst case scenarios with medical interventions.  She says it is for the reader's sake to be informed, but I think it instills a bit more fear than there needs to be.  After all, the majority of women must rely on doctors and nurses for their care; couldn't she approach the topic without instilling fear or distrust in qualified and educated physicians?  That's really my only serious complaint about Gaskin's philosophy.  Otherwise, I'd recommend part 2 of this book for any woman considering natural childbirth.

Part 1 provided dozens of accounts of childbirth including hospital stories (typically negative), home births, and births on the Farm.  It should be noted before reading this that the accounts are exhaustive providing lots of detail about labors.  Perhaps that's self-evident and need not be mentioned, but between descriptions and photos, I felt like I was exposed to some very graphic material.  Call me a prude, but I think I could have garnered the same information with less detail.  Some stories were helpful (especially those related to shoulder dystocia).  I will say that what kept creeping up in my mind was how uncomfortable I was with a number of the stories.  I guess I should put the disclaimer out there that everything I read is filtered through my Christian beliefs.  This material may not be offensive to many readers.  First, many of the women labor completely nude in a room with their husband and midwives.  While I know many will see private parts in delivery (hello, the baby comes out the same was he came in), it seemed immodest.  In just a few stories, midwives were massaging body parts that I would consider infidelity to my husband.  One particular story has a laboring woman lying in bed naked with another naked woman with their bodies pressed together.  Though there was a purpose in sharing this story, I was troubled by behaviors that seemed to cross some serious sexual boundaries for me.

Another element that I didn't love was how many women characterized their birth experience as spiritual.  I truly believe that becoming pregnant and delivering a healthy baby is miraculous, and it is by the grace of God that it occurs (see my Miracles book review below to read more about this).  I also believe accomplishing a huge physical feat like labor and delivery can give one the sense of great accomplishment and pride.  There is a blending in these women's perspectives that I think is encouraged on the Farm.  That is, the high these women feel after giving birth is given the label "spiritual", but they are really just making an idol out of the experience and sometimes themselves.  Only once in all the stories did I encounter a woman who associated the spiritual nature of delivery with God.  I include this in my review because it is tempting to believe we are responsible for the amazing things our bodies can do.  I believe only God can receive the credit for the spiritual nature of birth.  For one, only he knows the hour at which our labor will begin~ he ordains it.  Second, he designed our bodies to have contractions (I certainly cannot choose or even try to contract my uterus).  Third, it's those unconscious & self-regulated contractions that do most of the work.  I only get to participate at the very end with pushing after (what I assume will be) hours of enduring my body's pre-programmed work.  The only way a birth can be defined as spiritual to me is in believing that God designed my body to birth a baby (which is easy to believe after conceiving and growing this baby by no effort of my own) and that he'll permit it to do what he has designed and sustain me while it happens.  I think the folks at the Farm's idea must be spiritual in a mind-body-spirit kind of way.  Ina May has also written a book called Spiritual Midwifery (which I haven't read); if it implies the same sort of spirituality, I believe it's misleading.

There's no doubt in my mind that Ina May is an expert in childbirth and supports her methods with both empirical evidence, wide collaboration, and profound research (studying birthing methods from around the world as well as reading the journals of various midwives and physicians from the Western world over the last two to three hundred years).  She knows what she is talking about.  I would give this book out to my pregnant peers if only it were written from a Christian perspective.  I wish there were a book that incorporated this amount of knowledge with Christianity.  Some of the things I read in this book seemed downright sinful so I couldn't in good conscience say that it is for everyone.  I would be more willing to tell you to skip the testimonies for the wisdom in part 2 (but beware of the pervasive negative attitude towards doctors).  I'm glad I read it before having my own natural birth.  If you can or choose to have an epidural during birth, you should probably skip this read.

Miracles by C. S. Lewis

I received this book as a Christmas gift years ago.  I am a C.S. Lewis junkie, but I often start a book he's written not knowing what the premise will be.  For instance, I thought Surprised by Joy would be about his wife (who was named Joy).  I had no preconceived notions about Miracles and was happy to find a challenging read on par with Mere Christianity (with fewer analogies and illustrations).  Lewis constructs from the ground up an argument for the possibilities for miracles to exist.  He begins with distinguishing between those who believe in Naturalism vs. Supernaturalism.  An overgeneralized explanation of their difference is a belief that everything is contained within the nature we can see and experience vs. the belief that there is something external to nature.  By doing this he establishes a foundation for his overall argument.  He cleverly leads the reader into acknowledging the error in believing in spontaneous creation and makes a case for an intelligent creator.  To broadly summarize his progression, he eliminates areas that might cause the reader to doubt his logic and moves into an area describing what kind of character an intelligent creator must have and how he would interact with his nature.  Here he explores a variety of deities but narrows his sights on the Christian God.  Only towards the last third of the book does he arrive on the topic of miracles.  He challenges our simple notions of labeling convenient circumstances as "miracles".  He also examines a number of miracles recorded in the New Testament to demonstrate that God never performs miracles that are contrary to nature or his character (ex: Jesus multiplied bread and fish from a small amount already present yet he did not transform a rock into bread when tempted by Satan.  It's more natural to expect bread to yield bread than stone to yield anything edible).  Lewis concludes in an area that may seem absolutely unreasonable to the reader with no faith; he ventures into discussing miracles that relate to the new creation that God has promised to make and invites believers to anticipate.  One such case is the Ascension of Christ after his resurrection.  There is nothing in our nature that can preface our understanding of the body that Christ had which defied the laws of gravity (among other natural laws).  Lewis here comments on the overlapping of two distinct creations~ ours which has fallen because of sin and a new creation made for glorification.  I'm still working to wrap my mind around it all (though, admittedly it may take a lifetime and deeper study of the scriptures).

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I made the error of extending my reading over the course of a month which caused me to forget some of the nuances of Lewis's argument between readings.  One aspect that was particularly meaningful to me was his explanation that all conception is miraculous~ not just Mary's.  If you believe the Bible, there are numerous examples of God's authority over the wombs of women (Sarah, Rachel, Samson's mom, Hannah, and Elizabeth to name a few).  The more I thought about it in general, I thought that science can detail how conception of babies and reproduction works yet there is no biological explanation for the soul.  How is it that humans have spirit or soul in a way that no other animal has?  It leads me to believe that God selects or creates the personality or soul of the little baby my husband and I are expecting.  Sure we can put the pieces together and hope to see a tiny human at the end of nine months; we don't have the means to make or put a soul in him.  For that, we are dependent on God.

That was a bit of a tangent and has only a bit to do with this book, but what a gift it is when a book leads us to deeper thought.  I recommend this book for anybody curious about supernatural/miraculous events.  It's for thinkers so I wouldn't choose it for a casual read.  It's a great resource for those who are Christians because it approaches a scientific subject with the proper Christian perspective.  C.S. Lewis is an intelligent writer who frequently uses humor and intuition to make his points.  He's an author worth befriending.

Islam, Terrorism, and Your Future by Isaac ben Abraham

Islam, Terrorism, and Your Future was recommended by the pastor at my church. It was written shortly after 9/11/2001 in an effort to inform Christian Americans about the tenants of Islam, Middle Eastern religious and political culture, and the implications of Islam on the security of non-Muslims. Ben Abraham gives a brief history of the religion and how it differs from Christianity (a distant, powerful Allah vs. a gracious God who desires a relationship with his creation). He puts to rest that only extremists believe in terrorism by outlining that the tenants of Islam promote submission to Allah as the only way of life. It is impermissible to reject the religion, and Muslims are encouraged to take action against "infidels". He underscores the significance that Islam is not a religion that respects freedom; it is intrinsically linked to political and economic systems. In truly Islamic countries non-Muslims do not enjoy the same rights as Muhammad's followers. In some cases they are criminalized for not adhering to Islam and are persecuted for practicing other religions. It's not the religion of peace that has been promoted by the media or political figures. Ultimately, he prescribes several actions that should be taken by the American government and Christians.

This is a great introduction to understanding Islam for the believers in this country. It is a short read so not a huge commitment in terms of study. I will say that even though it is nearly ten years old, it is surprisingly relevant discussing in some detail Egypt's political situation and the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood (an organization that has been highly overlooked in comparison to the Taliban and al-Qaeda). The reader will note, though, that both Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden were still alive at the time (America had yet to enter Iraq also). Still, it is a very informative little book. It's a practical read for anyone who acknowledges that there is no terrorism apart from Islam.

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas

My mother lent me this book recently.  Upon taking it, she said she couldn't wait to read my review of it prompting me to move it to the top of my (very long) reading list.  I am certainly glad I did.  In Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Prophet, Martyr, Spy, Eric Metaxas provides a thorough account of the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  Bonhoeffer was born into a large, aristocratic German family who were devoted deeply to intellectual careers.  In a home of scientists and philosophers, Dietrich's choice at a young age to pursue theology in his academic endeavors may have seemed an unlikely choice and particularly unfavorable for such a bright young man.  There was, however, a tradition of theologians in his mother's side of the family.  He was educated in Tubingen, Berlin, and New York, and his ministries took him to Barcelona, London, and various cities in Germany.  He became deeply involved in the ecumenical church community as was as the Confessing church tradition.  With his keen mind, love for scripture, and gift for writing, Dietrich was clearly cut out for the career of a full-time academic.  This was not to be his fate.  His commitment to living a Christian life according to both Christ's example and his teachings led to his decision to be a pastor and ultimately to his role in a plot to eliminate Hitler.  It may be difficult for an American reader to justify how godly living could not be dissonant cognitively with assassinating a head of state.  One must recognize the deep love that Bonhoeffer had through Christ for those being persecuted.  Briefly, his justification for these actions depended on knowing that God was the source of all authority.  Any government who abused their God-given power must be held accountable by the body of believers who are the representatives of Christ on earth.  Not only is it right for the Christian to speak out against injustice, it is a high calling and duty.  Dietrich desired to be a voice for all the voiceless Jews (and Christians) who had been kidnapped, tortured, worked, starved, murdered, and cruelly disposed of by Hitler and the Third Reich.  In doing so, he accepted that he, too, might share in their suffering and ultimately Christ's suffering. 

To dispel any thoughts that this book is another story on Hitler, WWII, or the Holocaust because such topics are often dreary and depressing, this book is anything but that.  Truly the majority of it is devoted to the expression of Bonhoeffer's faith, his remarkable friendships, his career, his tight knit family, and even romance.  True, Dietrich lived a short life (being executed at age 39), but in those short years he lived a very robust and meaningful life.  Learning about his life filled me with such hope, wonder, and admiration for a man I've never known that I can hardly help but want to encourage all my friends to read it.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer was much more than a pastor, prophet, martyr, or spy; he was a musician, a friend, a writer, a brother, a scholar, a fiancé, and above all a man deeply committed to God.

As for Eric Metaxas writing, I have to say that it was miraculous.  It was obvious how much research he had done (this book is over 500 pages), and he typically allowed the story to be told by the writings of others (principally, of course, Dietrich's own letters and texts).  The chapters gradually shift from titles about where Dietrich lives for a period of time (Barcelona 1928, Berlin 1929, America 1930-1931, etc.) to the subjects that determined the direction his life took (Plotting Against Hitler, Bonhoeffer in Love, Valkyrie and the Stauffenberg Plot, etc).  In truth, Dietrich's story really was at first about where he traveled and shifted to the decision to remain in Germany once the war began and actively work against the evil regime.  Metaxas provides a full understanding of Bonhoeffer's life in an engaging writing style.  Metaxas hardly inserted himself in the narrative making it feel like the story wasn't being told by someone who wasn't actually there.  When I did notice the author, it was to clarify or interpret a theological principle or some action Dietrich took.  I was grateful for these occasions for two reasons.  First, it is so easy to mischaracterize a person when words and actions are taken out of their appropriate context.  Metaxas was certain to provide the right context for everything he wrote.  Second, some of his reflections helped me synthesize my understanding of something particularly difficult absorb.  Bonhoeffer at times is too smart for me, and it was nice to have Metaxas as my interpreter.

I recommend this book (as I said before) to anyone and everyone.  Honestly, I wish I had this book before I read The Cost of Discipleship (by Dietrich Bonhoeffer) because I think it would have made his teachings more profound.  After all, how much more closely do you listen to someone when you know them and how they came to know what they want to teach you?  I am also looking forward to reading Bonhoeffer's Ethics.  In truth, this biography is a testament to how he lived and is likely as instructive on Christian living as anything Bonhoeffer himself actually wrote.  Please please please read it.

America's Prophet: Moses and the American Story by Bruce Feiler

I first heard about America's Prophet by Bruce Feiler from a conservative media member who recommended it. Thanks to the public school system in our country, I feel terribly ill-informed about American history and thought this would be a great book to learn about its founding and development while discovering the influence Moses and the Exodus story had in our nation. Feiler describes a number of groups of Americans influenced by this biblical story of freedom and law beginning with the founders, slaves, presidents, 20th century Jews, and civil rights leaders. He goes into particular detail with individuals like Abraham Lincoln, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Martin Luther King. Moses, surprisingly, is found in a number of cultural icons as well like the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty, Superman comic books, and Hollywood films. It is quite an exhaustive source of information about people identifying with oppression, liberation, and foundations of a new lawful society.

My personal take on the book is that I couldn't in good conscience recommend it. While the outline of Feiler's book is fantastic, he makes a number of assertions about the importance of Moses at the expense of Jesus Christ when it comes to the Bible and ultimately God. After all, it was God who divided the Red Sea, killed the Egyptians who pursued Israel, sustained the nation while in the desert, and led them victoriously into the land of Canaan he had promised to Abraham over 400 years earlier. Feiler interviewed a number of religious, historical, and political figures who had personal insights on the Exodus story pertaining to American historical events. His questions guided the interviewees to over-emphasize Moses as the leader who provided the structure and law for the Israelites; at times he likened Moses to a savior or to a community organizer or to a great judge. I found it dishonest and at times blasphemous. It was frustrating for me to read it and disagree with Feiler and other contributors' misguided opinions (particularly any rabbis he interviews and Andrew Young). From here on out, I will have to take book recommendations from the conservative media member with a grain of salt. This is actually his second fail for me (the first being Czar by Ted Bell~ it gave me nightmares). I'll have to learn American history through authors without an agenda....

A Year with C.S. Lewis by C.S. Lewis

My husband, Kyle, and I started each day with C.S. Lewis this past year along with our Bible devotional. The book contains excerpts from Lewis' works, and each entry highlights a topic intrinsic to Christian living. Having read a number of his books, it was nice to be reminded of important themes from texts like Mere Christianity, The Great Divorce, and Screwtape Letters. I also was exposed to writings I have yet to read. I have Miracles waiting on my bookshelf to be read, and I'd really like to have my own copy of The Weight of Glory. I recommend this book as a supplement to your daily Bible study or something to share with others. It gave Kyle and me ample things to discuss and pray for in our lives. I even think it'd be cool for accountability groups as an ice breaker of a sort; each entry provides a short reading that presents thoughtful topics of discussion. Now, on to a year with Oswald!

Au Revoir to All That Food, Wine, and the End of France by Michael Steinberger

I spotted this book in a bookstore at a London train station. At the time, the price in pounds was a bit steep for me to make an impulsive purchase so I waited to return to the states to snag a copy from amazon.com. The tag line of the book is "Food, Wine, and the End of France"~ quite an ominous assertion. Michael Steinberger, a longtime wine columnist and American Francophile, spends the better part of the 2000s investigating the decline of France's culinary domination and world renown. His expertise on the preparation of haute cuisine is complimented extremely well by the research he conducted and interviews he administered to chefs, journalists, farmers, food critics, and entrepreneurs in the food industry. Steinberger educates the reader on the history of French cuisine beginning with the inaugural French cookbook, Le Cuisinier Francois, published in 1651 and continuing up the height of the nouvelle cuisine movement in the late 1960s. In his own words, he states that, "food became a source of gratification, a noble calling, a subject of impassioned debate, a means to political power, and a point of national pride." However, in recent years the market for the finest quality restaurants has decayed, and there are a number of contributing factors. Most notably he cites the economic crisis France entered in the 1980s under the socialist president Francois Mitterrand and sustained through the administration of his successor, the soft-left statist Jacques Chirac. The country has struggled with sluggish growth and high unemployment complicated further by ethnic unrest, the failure of the French university system, and overall disinterest in preserving culture. Specific challenges threatened France's top chefs; the introduction and questionable standards of the Michelin Guide, discrepancies between the value-added tax (VAT) applied to fast food restaurants vs. traditional restaurants (5.5% for McDonald's & 19.6% for l'Auberge du Pont de Collonges), government regulation in production of cheeses and wines, and the rise of inventive and talented chefs abroad (especially Spain and Japan). The book ends on a hopeful note highlighting the work of chefs who aren't after the highly coveted 3 stars as well as restaurateurs who employ Maghreb youths, a community that is ostracized by the French and constantly have unemployment rates up to 50%.  This seems to be the obvious solution for restaurants scrambling to keep full staffs. Overall all it is a thoughtful explanation of French gourmandism underscored by Steinberger's quest to reveal what has threatened to destroy France's gastronomic tradition.

I happened to be interested more in the political aspect of this book when I picked it up, but I was happily surprised by all I learned. Truly my knowledge of haute cuisine was limited to a class field trip to l'Auberge du Pont de Collonges (Paul Bocuse's flagship restaurant in Lyon) and the Pixar film Ratatouille (which depicts the roles of chefs and food preparation stations in the kitchen with surprising accuracy). If I have partaken of an AOC wines, it's quite by accident since I wouldn't have been aware that it was different from a vin de table or a vin de pays. I was grateful that Steinberger didn't take on the anti-globalism perspective especially dealing with McDonald's (read Jihad vs. McWorld if that's what you are into). Going into reading this book, I knew (and witnessed firsthand) that France had become the second largest market for the enormous fast food chain (following America, of course). He justly held France as the responsible party for what appears to be (and much to the chagrin of many a chef) a self-inflicted decline.

As to the writing style, I found it easy, enjoyable, and quick to read. He didn't dwell on describing food to the point that I was drooling, but did so with enough accuracy that I understood what he was describing. If anything, I think his use of the word "eponymous" was a bit exhausting, but that's just nitpicking. I'd say my favorite parts of this book were when he was quoting chefs~ some calling France as communist as Cuba, some citing Rousseau (who wouldn't indulge in rich food) as their inspiration to become a chef, and some complaining about government standards then defending the importance of keeping bad rules in place. My favorite quote was from Jacques Puisais, an oenologist and writer. When discussing how the French have traded their croissants for cornflakes, he said that cornflakes were "a miserable product, consumed in solitude, lending a depressing inhumanity to the morning meal." Ha! So dramatic...

I would recommend this book to Francophiles, foodies, folks who enjoy a non-stressful read on politics, and anyone planning to travel to France. For food lovers, he refers to dozens of cookbooks and books about food by experts which may spark a follow up read.