Ruminations

Most Recent Reads

2008-11-09T17:59:00.006-06:00

Cryptonomicon - Neal Stephenson

With a sadonic wit and fine attention to detail, Stephenson weaves together the lives of three characters in a tale spanning three generations from WWII to modern day: Bobby Shaftoe--tough as nails WWII Marine; Laurence Waterhouse--brilliant codebreaker working for the Allies; Randy Waterhouse--computer programmer who finds himself caught up in a plan to establish a data haven (while hunting for Nazi/Japanese gold). The story is noticeably short on plot, however, and quite lengthy. (Rating: B / B.L.: Adult)

Dune - Frank Herbert

Tired of hearing "one of the best science fiction stories of all time" only to waste several days of your life? Sink your teeth into Dune and you'll agree that Herbert has created a masterfully realized world, the perfect stage for the coming of age of the protagonist, Paul. Desolate yet vital, the planet Arrakis shapes the future of the galaxy since it's the mysterious source of melange--an addictive, prophecy-inducing spice. After political intrigue lands Paul's family and friends on this inhospitable planet, Paul must confront the terrible destiny laid before him. (Rating: A+ / B.L.: 6+)

Shadow of the Hegemon - Orson Scott Card

The war against the Buggers has ended...Bean and the other Battle School grads now face a threat just as insidious--Achilles. Deftly weaving military strategy with themes of family, ambition, and belonging, Card reveals his skill in creating believable futures. (Rating: A / B.L.: 8+)

Ender's Shadow - Orson Scott Card

Possessed with a terrifyingly powerful intelligence, Bean comes alongside Ender as they give their innocence to protect the human race. Told from Bean's perspective, this novel certainly does enrich the story found in Ender's Game though some readers may chafe as Card rehashes events. (Rating: A / B.L.: 8+)

Once an Arafat Man - Tass Saada

A former sniper for the Palestinian rebel group Fatah, Tass Saada now works to reconcile enemies in the Middle East who have fought for thousands of years. This powerful narrative of his conversion also helps the reader see Muslims and Arabs in a new light. (Grade: A / B.L.: 9+)

Brisingr - Christopher Paolini

Within Paolini's well-crafted fantasy world, Alagaesia, Eragon and Saphira strive to fulfill their promises to the various races united against evil King Galbatorix as his enemy's power begins to grow. Paolini's skill has improved: figurative language and descriptive passages are stronger, the prose is more gripping, and character development succeeds in drawing the reader into the lives of the characters. Story continues in book 4... (Rating: A+ / B.L.: 6+)

The Shack - William Paul Young
After tragedy strikes his family, a grieving father has an encounter with the Heavenly Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that reshapes his views of life and the problem of pain. The Shack reads a bit more like a shallow theological discourse than a novel, and Young's characterization of the Father touches on the irreverent side. However, it gets the reader contemplating truths vital to a full life. (Rating: B / G.L.: 6+)

A Game of Thrones - George R. R. Martin

A tale of political intrigue, battles, and becoming, A Game of Thrones is set in a fantasy world where the seasons can last a whole decade. Martin follows the lives of a multitude of characters as they each face the fallout of a fight for the throne of the Seven Kingdoms. A bit lengthy...climax could be stronger. (Rating: B / B.L.: Adult)

The Infinite Day - Chris Walley

In the satisfying conclusion to the Lamb Among the Stars trilogy, Merral and the Assembly face their greatest test yet as the Dominion sweeps across the Made Worlds toward Earth. A tale of sacrifice and faith, prayer and redemption, The Infinite Day will be well worth your time. (Rating: A / G.L. 6+)

The Dark Foundations - Chris Walley

Merral and crew discover the truth behind the words, "a house divided against itself cannot stand" even as they wrestle with their own deceptive hearts. The action intensifies in this second of three books as Farholme is lashed by the storms of war. (Rating: A+ / G.L.: 6+)

Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller

Gritty, No-holds barred non-fiction from Miller stands as the antithesis to modern Christianity and all its trappings. Read Blue Like Jazz for a challenge to return to the roots of faith, roots sunk deep into the real world yet not tainted by its curse. (Rating: A+ / B.L. 8+)

The Shadow and Night - Chris Walley

Finally! Modern Christian science fiction that can truly claim to be descendant from C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. Set thousands of years in the future on a Made World on the edge of the settled universe, Shadow tells the story of a Eden-like world that once more must face the corrupting, insideous evil that spoiled our world so long ago. Hard to summarize...a must read. (Rating: A+ / G.L. 6+)

Once an Arafat Man - Review

2008-10-22T18:12:00.003-05:00

Rating: A
Book Level: 9+

In any conflict, problems only escalate when both sides fail to understand the perspectives of the other. In his autobiography, Tass Saada gives readers a fuller picture of life in the Middle East, as well as hope for how peace may find a foothold in the war-torn region. Once an Arafat Man also leads readers to a deeper appreciation for Arabs and Muslims and their place in God's world.

Growing up as a Muslim in the Middle East, Tass Saada experienced the resentment and hatred that led him and his brethren to use violence to achieve their goals. As a young man, Tass was a trained sniper for Fatah, a Palestinian rebel group. Later moving to the U.S. and marrying an American, Tass found that without Jesus Christ, a person is empty no matter where he/she lives. The tale of his conversion is truly inspirational and will leave the reader in awe of the True God.

After accepting Christ as his Savior, Tass followed the Lord with the same passion he followed Yasser Arafat as a youth. He started a non-profit organization called Hope for Ismael to help the people of Palestine, youth and adult alike, to find true peace and healing.

Readers looking for a magic solution to the problems in the Middle East will be disappointed, but Tass certainly points the way to what should be done to bring peace--individual people loving their neighbors through acts of love and service, sympathizing with the pain and hurt others face. This is a quick read and rarely bogs down in preachy language. Readers should come away with a fuller respect for those most Americans have considered "enemies" without truly knowing why.

Brisingr - Book Review

2008-10-15T19:32:00.003-05:00

Dave Wilbur's Quick Review of Desautels Case Tucson 2008

2008-07-11T18:22:00.003-05:00

I'm extremely proud of my parents for winning the Desautels Award at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show after only 3 years of collecting. They have learned a phenomenal amount in such a short time and are quite an inspiration. Perhaps I'll extend this blog to include more of the natural beauty found deep within the earth...

Reflections from St. Ives (Spring 2000)

2008-04-06T19:46:00.011-05:00

For the past hour, I have sat in the Yellow Canary with my hands wrapped around a steaming cup of tea or holding a fork to shovel in a Cornish English breakfast. It's drizzling in St. Ives--a steady, thorough-soaking kind of precipitation that does nothing but drench and frustrate. Still, I like this town. St. Ives, situated on the western-most coast of England, offers infamous views of the ocean. Artists and poets have flocked here in search of inspiration; many have found it. Rumor has it Virginia Woolf wrote To the Lighthouse based on the tower-light on this very bay. The narrow streets and walkways, cottages and seafood restaurants, beaches, cliffs, and hills all have obvious appeal. If it does not cease precipitating, I'll be forced to return in warmer weather.

I think back to yesterday evening when the friendly taxi driver who brought me from the train to St. Ives pointed me in the direction of the coastal path and told me a little about the town. He said locals and visitors alike spend hours admiring the sea, which changes colors continuously throughout the day in a spectacular display.

Walking down the early morning streets on my way to the Yellow Canary, I was greeted--actually greeted--as I passed a fellow human. Civility at last! I'd dare say that St. Ives has more well-mannered citizens than all of London. Or if London has charm, she's forgotten to reveal it to her visitors. No, that's not fair. Londoners have learned to build mental walls and invisible space bubbles as a response to the incessant press of personalities all around. I see this as necessary. Out in the open spaces of the rest of England, such barriers fall away: it's no wonder I spend so much time outside of London.

Porthmeor

Only the surfers--crazy for a wave to ride--
Are out in the cold, cold waters of the bay
They look like specks, black specks to me
But I know what they are:

Their sandprint tracks like scritch-scratch
Are printed letters on a page,
Their frenzied dance a melody,
A prelude to the sea.

And she, a song, an unrelenting rhythm
Has never ceased and never will
Long after all else is still, so still
In the frigid pale watches of the night.

The sea today: froth-blue and white
And quite subdued in hue
Has requested to dance with the rain
And these surfers, they merrily remain.

Open Hands

2008-03-28T15:32:00.005-05:00

There are few teachings of Christ more difficult to apply (and more commonly ignored) than Matthew 5:38-48. When given flesh and bones, this act of obedience has great potency to change lives steeped in sin and utterly stupify mockers of righteousness. Incidentally, this teaching may also be the best barometer of how entrenched materialism remains in the life of a believer. A follower of Christ cannot simultaneously love the soul of a lost one and hold his/her possessions in a tight fist.

From the streets of New York comes this testimony of the power of kindness and a love freed from worldly trappings.

“If you're willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then I guess you must really need the money.”

Julio Diaz, speaking with the teenager who robbed him. (Visit NPR to hear audio version)

March 28, 2008 -- Julio Diaz has a daily routine. Every night, the 31-year-old social worker ends his hour-long subway commute to the Bronx one stop early, just so he can eat at his favorite diner.

But one night last month, as Diaz stepped off the No. 6 train and onto a nearly empty platform, his evening took an unexpected turn.

He was walking toward the stairs when a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife.

"He wants my money, so I just gave him my wallet and told him, 'Here you go,'" Diaz says.

As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, "Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you're going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm."

The would-be robber looked at his would-be victim, "like what's going on here?" Diaz says. "He asked me, 'Why are you doing this?'"

Diaz replied: "If you're willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then I guess you must really need the money. I mean, all I wanted to do was get dinner and if you really want to join me ... hey, you're more than welcome.

"You know, I just felt maybe he really needs help," Diaz says.

Diaz says he and the teen went into the diner and sat in a booth.

"The manager comes by, the dishwashers come by, the waiters come by to say hi," Diaz says. "The kid was like, 'You know everybody here. Do you own this place?'"

"No, I just eat here a lot," Diaz says he told the teen. "He says, 'But you're even nice to the dishwasher.'"

Diaz replied, "Well, haven't you been taught you should be nice to everybody?"

"Yea, but I didn't think people actually behaved that way," the teen said.

Diaz asked him what he wanted out of life. "He just had almost a sad face," Diaz says.

The teen couldn't answer Diaz — or he didn't want to.

When the bill arrived, Diaz told the teen, "Look, I guess you're going to have to pay for this bill 'cause you have my money and I can't pay for this. So if you give me my wallet back, I'll gladly treat you."

The teen "didn't even think about it" and returned the wallet, Diaz says. "I gave him $20 ... I figure maybe it'll help him. I don't know."

Diaz says he asked for something in return — the teen's knife — "and he gave it to me."

Afterward, when Diaz told his mother what happened, she said, "You're the type of kid that if someone asked you for the time, you gave them your watch."

"I figure, you know, if you treat people right, you can only hope that they treat you right. It's as simple as it gets in this complicated world."

Produced for Morning Edition by Michael Garofalo.

Pornography and the Golden Calf

2008-03-24T10:48:00.003-05:00

In his powerfully real book, Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller confesses that he desired false gods "because Jesus wouldn't jump through my hoops..." Instead, he sought after gods that would satisfy his desire for novelty and philosophical variety. He sees parallels in the way the people of Israel committed spiritual adultery as a means to control their situation and fulfill their legitimate longings. Wandering in the wilderness, following a mysterious, frightening God, they built an idol more familiar to them, an idol they could see and touch and that would condone any pleasures they so desired. In this, we see the catastrophe of the human condition, The Fall replayed in all its horrid detail. Men seeking to harness the universe and bend life to meet their own lusts bring destruction upon their heads.

Several thousand years later, men use pornography as an idol to scratch their lustful itches. Unable to get their wives to jump through their hoops, many men have escaped to a twisted, on-demand form of sexuality they can control. Though this hateful idol is the very one worshiped by unbelievers and held up as a sign of human progress in upending "traditional" morality, Christian men return to its familiar comforts at the risk of bringing a plague upon their homes. That plague has devastated America as family upon family have blown apart in the forces of bitterness, distrust, and hurt. Oh that we could crush pornography into fine dust as Moses did to the golden cow!

Review--The Shadow and Night

2008-03-20T11:35:00.009-05:00

The Shadow and Night - Chris Walley - A+

Suppose modern Evangelicals have it wrong. Suppose that Christ's return isn't imminent and that He has no plans to rapture the Church. Suppose instead that the Lord ushers in a Golden Age in which the universe has been cleansed of Satanic influence and the corrosive effects of sin. Given thousands of years to build a harmonious society called The Assembly, mankind in Walley's speculative future has spread across the galaxy on hundreds of Made Worlds, planets made in Earth's image to host the thriving human race. On the edge of the Assembly lies Farholme, home to the protagonist Merral d'Avanos. After his teenage cousin witnesses a disturbing, unfathomable creature in the northern woods, events unfold that signal the end of an age of peace and stability. Evil has returned to the Assembly, beginning its destructive rampage on Farholme. As Merral and company confront the growing threat, they discover the problem reaches deeper than they'd like; sin has begun its dark march across their own hearts as well.

The novel's portrayal of a world free from the corruptive influence of sin strikes a chord deep within. The reader instinctively recognizes the "correctness" of Merral's world before the invasion, that is, life as it was meant to be. Men and women enjoy their work, receive rich pleasure from creativity and craft as they mimic their Creator, and thrive in relationships untainted by battles of the ego. This setting creates within the reader a sense of longing for such a world, and drives one to recognize what he/she has given up in order to enjoy the bitterness of sin. A true sense of loss is conveyed as evil corrupts Merral's world.

In contrast to many Christian protagonists, Merral has a genuine heart complete with all its resident contradictions. Facing evil for the first time, he quickly learns the "heart is deceitful above all things." Merral confronts his own culpability in the vilification of Farholme as he faces his own moral failures and weaknesses. His confusion about the changed spiritual landscape adds to a sense of reality as, for example, Merral ponders an apparent silence from heaven after he prays.

While some may complain, the book's length is sufficient to portray a culture characterized by innocence and ego-free human activity. A full and proper description combined with the reader's longing for such a state causes the reader to hurt and mourn with Merral as his world begins to unravel. Additionally, a well-crafted exposition serves to heighten the suspense and sense of horror about the invaders since the reader must wait helplessly as events unfold.

To fully appreciate this book, Christian readers must lay down their presuppositions regarding end-time events and be willing to entertain a post-millenialist view. Mature individuals should be able to hold several views simultaneously for any issue with substantial uncertainty and disagreement such as this one. An overly-dogmatic perspective sucks much joy out of the exploration of our universe.

Finally, the book's incorporation of science-minded individuals was quite refreshing. Similar treatment by other respected authors can go a long way in removing perceptions that Christians are ignorant of the workings of the natural world. Unexamined beliefs regarding Genesis have pushed Christians away from using science as a tool for proper exploration and stewardship of our world.

Heavenly Counterpoint

2008-03-19T09:45:00.005-05:00

In addressing the problem of evil in the world and its train of attendants--sorrow, pain, sickness, death, despair--many observers have recognized the hand of redemption at work. God, in His infinite wisdom allowed The Fall and its consequences as a means of heavenly counterpoint. In other words, to fully appreciate joy in this life, one must understand sorrow; to enjoy health, sickness must be a shadow in the past, and so on.

I've often wondered what infinite joy would do to a human being...how will we handle or rather withstand perpetual joy in the Heavenly Jerusalem without emotional meltdown? With this present age behind us serving as a contrast, eternal life in God's presence can be fully enjoyed for what it is. But, will this effect lose its power as our memories of our earthly sojourn stretch thin into eternity?

In thinking of Heaven and infinite bliss, I've always considered the obliteration of the terrible opposites as God makes all things new. In their place I've projected pure blessed experience. However, it occured to me that perhaps instead of the sorrow-joy antithesis, in eternity we will experience times of joy juxtaposed with times without joy. Now, non-joy does not mean sorrow, and as such it could serve as the needed reference point to richen the experience. This is a novel thought for me since I've never expected that our experiences in Heaven may include moments of...what...stasis? I don't recall Scripture indicating this won't be the case, only that there will be no more sorrow, crying, or pain.

On the other hand, we too will be made new. Perhaps our capacity to handle complete, infinite joy will also stretch to infinite. Or, will the experience of Heaven differ so completely from this present age as to defy projection utterly? We shall see...

The Shadow and Night -- A+

2008-03-07T20:39:00.001-06:00

Perelandra Builds Character

2007-08-02T14:12:00.001-05:00

Perelandra - C. S. Lewis, A-

George MacDonald's influence clearly emerges in this second book of the Space Trilogy, and with that influence comes a flaw inherent in books like Lilith and Perelandra. Philosophical elements take precedence over plot, and as such, the story inevitably bogs down, requiring the reader to exercise mental fortitude and perseverance to keep from giving up the whole experience.

For those who survive the journey, Lewis's philosophical explorations of temptation, sovereignty/free will, and the Divine Plan make for a worthwhile read. Two observations stand out relating to the theme of temptation. First, the book reminds one of the character of our Enemy. Few overlook his desire to destroy as much as possible since he knows the battle is already lost, but his apparent pettyness...his concern for small details does not get discussed often. Just as the demon seeks to force Ransom to buckle by interminably repeating his name, Satan works by chipping away at our souls through small details: little lies, little vices, "mini sins," if you will. If he can't destroy a man in one fell swoop, he'll drive him over the edge one small inch at a time. Second, while our struggle against sin doesn't even approach the epic, we like Tinidril need other Christian's to fight for us...we too reach a point where our souls cry "This can't go on!" and we fall upon the prayers of a loving brother. Remember, reader, that "The sword of the Spirit...the Word of God" and prayer remain our offensive weapons against the enemy of our souls. Be glad we don't have to drink Ransom's cup!

I feel in no way adequate to address the theme of God's sovereignty and our will. Though my views on this matter remain clear, my intellect and my language fails to truly express them. Let me instead fall upon the story and let it speak for me and see where that leads. As Ransom faces an inevitable choice regarding how to save Tinidril, his thoughts trace a path my own thoughts have travelled. He says,

"...the power of choice had been simply set aside and an inflexible destiny substituted for it. On the other hand, you might say that he had been delivered from the rhetoric of his passions and had emerged into unassailable freedom. Ransom could not...see any difference between these two statements. Predestination and freedom were apparently identical. He could no longer see any meaning in the many arguments he had heard on this subject."

In my struggles with this issue, I too have set aside the distinction between predestination and individual choice, recognizing that they exist on different planes of reality. The former, outside of time, overlays the other, bound by time. Our every action, known before by God, fits into the cosmic "Great Dance." If the Lord allows, I would like few things more than to satisfactorily refute and dismiss current conceptions of "free will" that predominate in Christian circles. Perhaps I'll just recommend this book...

At a later date, I'll attempt a more thorough discussion of how Lewis developed his view of God's divine plan for the universe. Since my head almost exploded while reading the last few pages of the book, I'll probably need to re-read it before I make any such attempt.

In parting, don't get the impression that this book is all talk and no action. Ransom's fight with the demon-possessed Weston will give shivers and end in exultation. Simply voyaging across the surface of Venus with Ransom pleasantly stretches your imagination and provides fodder for contemplation. True, the "Great Dance" narrative will give you a headache, but it does reveal an awe-inspiring glimpse of God's sovereign plan for the universe. So, hang in there and be prepared to think hard. You too will likely wish to re-read this book to try to understand the deeper issues.

Reflections on Lewis's Out of the Silent Planet

2007-07-22T16:54:00.000-05:00

Out of the Silent Planet - C.S. Lewis, A

In the first book of Lewis's Space Trilogy, Dr. Ransom encounters intelligent life on Malacandra (Mars) and gains a deeper understanding of mankind's condition.

Before reading this trilogy, know that Lewis attempts to address religious and philosophical issues rather than focusing on plot. Why use science fiction to accomplish this goal? By stepping out of our reality, where we live as if with blinders on, we can see ourselves more objectively. Seen from afar, the follies of men resolve into a clear image: we have been willfully deceived. Science has taught us to idolize Life while at the same time dehumanizing the human species. It is our minds and spirits, the eternal things, that make every human valuable and worth saving. Just as in The Screwtape Letters, Lewis reminds us that the unseen things in our universe should not be overlooked.

Moments of intense imaginative beauty have been interspersed with philosophical dialogue, but still many readers may find this book more challenging than expected. Expect to be amazed, though, with Lewis's ability to instill child-like wonder even in us too-somber adults.

So Close Yet So Far

2007-07-19T16:49:00.000-05:00

Wanderlust

2007-02-24T11:28:00.000-06:00

Wanderlust takes hold

My feet rebel

If only

I could keep my mind

In one place

Content

Review: The Prophet of Yonwood Looks Bleak

2007-02-17T14:12:00.000-06:00

The Prophet of Yonwood - Jeanne DuPrau, B-

Readers who enjoyed the first two books in the City of Ember series will likely be disappointed by Yonwood. While DuPrau again develops the main character with considerable skill, the story moves much too slowly and never reaches its expected destination. Most readers hoped this book would elaborate on the events leading up to the Disaster and the rush to preserve mankind underground in Ember. DuPrau doesn't truly address these topics until the afterword, and when she does, the information is so sparse and condensed that the reader is left frustrated and underwhelmed.

Instead of describing the building of Ember and its settlement as expected, DuPrau explores the themes of misguided religious devotion, intolerance, and authoritarianism. Perhaps this was an attempt to explain the cause of the Disaster (a theme already explored in Sparks), but her tactic failed. Her moral perspective is confusing at best and dangerous for young teens.

The story takes place in Yonwood, where a woman has had a vision of the world utterly destroyed by nuclear war. The townspeople hail her a prophet of God. 11-year-old Nickie, armed with big plans and an even larger curiousity, travels to Yonwood with her aunt to fix up an old home. There she meets Mrs. Beeson, who claims to be able to interpret the prophet's messages, supposing them to be instructions from God on how to protect her town from nuclear disaster. Ambitious Nickie becomes ensnared in her misguided witch-hunt for all "sinners."

DuPrau's use of Beeson to illustrate the folly of misguided, fanatical religious devotion could have been very successful had she used another character as her antithesis, someone who could demonstrate authentic faith. As a result of this omission, the reader does not have any idea of what true religious devotion looks like, or even if there is such a thing.

While the theme of intolerance appears throughout the book when Beeson and Nickie ostracize people who "feel wrong," it is also this theme that DuPrau uses as the eventual cause of the Disaster. Nickie struggles several times to understand tough religious issues involving God's will and the fate of nations. She wonders, if two warring parties both pray to God to help them win a war, how does God answer? Whose side is He on? Disturbingly, she never finds answers to these questions. In the afterword, the narrator divulges that the Disaster eventually ravaged the earth after two powerful groups, both insisting they had the truth and God on their side, refused to back down. The implication is that no one can know for sure what truth is. Truth isn't absolute. And those who insist on being right, who follow their faith at all costs, are the true enemies of the world.

Ironically, it is this philosophy, that there is no absolute truth and that those who claim to know the only truth are intolerant, that is the greatest enemy to the true peace of mankind. If a person believes this, they will never find the source of Life, Peace, and Hope. Only in placing faith in One Way, one man Jesus Christ, who is the "way, the truth, and the life," can we find the salvation of our souls, peace with God, and the hope of a secure eternal home.

DuPrau addresses the theme of authoritarianism as Mrs. Beeson and her followers try to build a "shield of goodness" around Yonwood, which would somehow cause God to spare them from the impending disaster. Since Mrs. Beeson belongs to the inner circle of people with access to the prophet, she uses her newfound power to make life miserable for people she dislikes, those who are unusual, and those who won't fall in line and do exactly what she says. Beeson punishes those who disobey her by shackling them with an unbreakable bracelet that emits a piercing humming sound. "Undesirables" either leave town or comply. Of the three major themes, DuPrau handles this one appropriately, showing readers the dangers of blindly following a leader who has no accountability and whose moral compass doesn't point north but instead wavers like a drunken man. Again, though, DuPrau does not reveal how readers can find the true source of truth, the Word of God confirmed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Readers will be underwhelmed by this book and left confused as to what truly is the source of truth and righteousness. Use this book as a springboard for discussion about truth claims and religious devotion.

The City of Ember--Overview and Review

2006-11-04T19:10:00.000-06:00

The City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau, A+

A masterful work of science fiction, The City of Ember launches DuPrau's promising career. The story brims with strong images and extended metaphors, undergirded with a lucid style that is easy to read. At its heart, Ember is a salvation story with many clear parallels to Plato's Allegory of the Cave.

The main characters, Lina and Doon, grow up in a city where darkness reigns except for the ever-present streetlights and lights inside houses. Darkness, too, creates a seemingly impenetrable barrier around their known world, so that schoolchildren are taught that Ember is the only city that is and nothing else exists beyond the Unknown Regions.

At twelve years of age, Lina, Doon, and her classmates randomly select their occupation. Each is assured that their job is a small but vital part in ensuring that the social machinery of Ember keeps working. "Ember will prosper if all citizens will do their best," says the mayor. Yet, Doon along with a growing number of disgruntled denizens are aware that the city faces dreadful, insurmountable problems. Food shortages. Blackouts. Some (mostly) new supplies and equipment can be found, but only at great price. Pleased at having received her favorite job, Lina is baffled by her former friend's pesimism, that is, until the electricity blackouts begin occuring more frequently and the rumors of major supply shortages prove to be too true to ignore.

It seems that the mysterious Builders of Ember, who stocked the city full of food and supplies in the first place, either miscalculated or something has gone horribly wrong. When the Builders created the city, they expected that people would live there for only 200 years. After the alotted time, a box containing instructions was to open, informing the mayor of the next steps to take. Tragically, this message was lost. Now, in the year 251, the hydro-electric generator seems poised to fail, undoubtedly plunging Ember into utter blackness.

At this moment of fear and insecurity, Doon and Lina enter the workforce. Doon longs to make a mark on his world, perhaps even being the one to save the city. Just when he discovers the situation is near hopeless, his friendship with Lina is rekindled. Along with her unquenchable curiousity, she brings to the partnership a vision of a city of light that she feels in her heart is out there somewhere. As the situation becomes precarious, Lina's senile grandmother (kin to the major who lost the message) unwitttingly discovers the box with the Builder's instructions. Lina finds the message but not until after her one-year-old sister had had her chance to "inspect" it with her teeth and toddler hands.

Together, the duo work to unscramble the instructions. Just as they discover the pathway out of Ember to freedom, they also uncover the mayor's criminal plot to embezzle food and supplies. Foolishly, they inform the mayor's guards and end up as fugitives, unable to make their life-saving announcement to the public. On the run, Lina, her sister, and Doon take the only "door" out of Ember: the river the flows under the city. Stunned, the three emerge into the outside world, realizing that Ember is underground. They see for the first time moon, stars, grass, trees...sun, birds, animals. Compared with the world they had known, this new "world" is seemingly boundless. A discarded journal that they find reveals that inhabitants of Earth's cities founded Ember as a safety precaution in case of a massive disaster on the surface.

Equipped with the truth regarding the genesis of their city and the only route to salvation, they long to get the message to the others. Finally, they find another path that leads underground to a clifftop overlooking the massive cavern housing Ember and all its inhabitants. Unable to climb back down, they hurl a note to the people below, hoping someone will believe them and the town will make an exodus to safety.

Several allusions, extended metaphors, and themes make this story more intriguing than just another sci-fi childrens' story. It is Plato's Allegory of the Cave retold. Just like the discovery that Plato's enlightened man makes, the main characters find that their world was just a shadow of the near limitless world above the surface of the earth. They too face opposition by men and women who refuse to believe in the truth when they seek desperately to save their city from impending darkness. I won't elaborate much on the clear relationship between darkness and ignorance, light and truth since it is so well elucidated elsewhere.

DuPrau also uses two extended metaphors which, while common, find new life in her story: the seed and the caterpillar. When hope seems lost, Lina's mentor gives her a seed, reminding her that though it looks dead, life will emerge from beneath the soil. Across the city, Doon witnesses a caterpillar metamorphosize into a moth, giving him encouragement that an exit to freedom is imminent.

Desire is a theme that runs throughout the story. Positive desires propel both Doon and Lina to greatness. Doon longs more than anything to save his city, hoping to make his father proud. Driven by dreams of a city of light, Lina holds onto hope that there is something more to her world than what she sees. On the other hand, Lina experiences the force of lust. In the words of her mentor,

"There is so much darkness in Ember, Lina. It's not just outside, it's inside us too. Everyone has some darkness inside. It's like a hungry creature. It wants and wants and wants with a terrible power. And the more you give it, the bigger and hungrier it gets."

These words remind her of the hunger she had felt for a set of colored pencils, a hunger that had caused her to neglect watching her sister, who almost became lost. This same hunger led the mayor to embezzle food and supplies for himself. Doon, too, was not exempt, letting longing find expression in anger several times in the book.

In conclusion, Ember has depths to explore below the surface that make this a fascinating beginning to DuPrau's career in science fiction.

Youth Book List

2006-11-04T18:09:00.000-06:00

As an educator, I review quite a few books every year, looking for teaching material, recommendations, and discussion starters. Having begun a master book list covering the books that I am reading for personal pleasure, it makes sense to keep a list of the books reviewed while wearing my teacher shoes. Undoubtedly, I'll overlook several books that I read more than a year ago, but I'll try to include all the books I've reviewed since beginning my job as a sixth grade English teacher.

The Golden Compass - Philip Pullman

A young girl travels to the far north to rescue her friend while seeking to unravel the mystery of Dust and its dangerous role in her fantastic world. Pullman successfully weaves adventure, fantasy, and a bit of imaginative physics together in the first book of the trilogy His Dark Materials. (Rating: A / G.L. 6+)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter demonstrates to the wizarding world the power of sacrifice, loyalty, and love as he battles Voldemort in Rowling's last HP book...an outstanding finale. Parents, screen the book for your children due to some strong language use and shocking imagery. (Rating: A / G.L. 7+)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

The stakes are high during year six at Hogwarts. Harry suspects Malfoy of carrying out a deadly plan for Voldemort, Snape seems to confirm Harry's long suspicions, and Dumbledore enlists Harry's help in unraveling the mystery of Voldemort and his rise to power. Year six also finds Harry and friends struggling with an equally daunting task: trying to figure out the opposite sex and the rules of love. (Rating: A / G.L.: 7+)

The Prophet of Yonwood - Jeanne DuPrau

In this prequel to The City of Ember, 11-year-old Nickie travels with her aunt to fix up an old home, armed with big plans and an even larger curiousity. She meets a Mrs. Beeson, whose ambitions to protect her town from nuclear disaster ensnare Nickie in a misguided witch-hunt for all "sinners." Readers will be underwhelmed by this book and left confused as to what truly is the source of truth and righteousness. (Rating: B- / G.L.: 6+)

The Final Storm - Wayne Thomas Batson

The conclusion of the Door Within trilogy hums with intense battle sequences, life and death struggles, wrestling for the souls of men, all the things that made the first two books enjoyable (but on a larger scale). Readers will revel and rejoice in the last few pages of the book as they imagine for themselves that final battle and the manifestation of a new Kingdom that will never end. (Rating: A+ / G.L. 5+)

The Rise of the Wyrm Lord - Wayne Thomas Batson

Readers of the first book in The Door Within trilogy may be surprised that Aiden has a minor role in this second installment, but they will surely enjoy meeting Antoinette--brave, stubborn, faithful,...hair dyed red. The action intensifies as Paragor unleases an ancient menace and the battle for men's souls wages ever more fiercely. You'll want to pick up the third book as quickly as you can. (Rating: A / Grade Level: 5+)

The People of Sparks - Jeanne DuPrau

After escaping the dying city of Ember, Lina and Doon lead their people above ground into a strange, new, marvelous, and deadly world. The Emberites find help and shelter from the people of Sparks, but as tensions mount, Lina and Doon hope to avoid the same mistakes their ancestors made which led to the great Disaster. (Rating: A- / Grade Level: 4+)

The City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau

A masterful work of science fiction, The City of Ember launches DuPrau's promising career as a novelist. In a city where no one has the answers to food and supply shortages, where darkness reigns but for the ever-present amber streetlights, where even the Builders could not have foreseen the imminent disasters, two young heroes seek for answers. Salvation must be found! (Rating: A+ /Grade Level: 4+)

Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry - Mildred D. Taylor

Cassie's family fights to hold onto their land and livelihood in the segregated South while Cassie learns to face life with her chin up -- (A- / 6+)

Sing Down the Moon - Scott O'Dell

The Navajo branch of the Trail of Tears is illuminated from a young woman's perspective in this haunting and beautiful historical work -- (B+ / 6+)

Rascal - Sterling North

Sterling North recounts his explorations of the Wisconsin countryside with his racoon, Rascal--a true portrait of a naturalist -- (B / 5+)

Johnny Tremain - Esther Forbes

Rub shoulders with John Adams, Paul Revere, and others as you travel with Johnny through Boston on the brink of war -- (A / 6+)

The Bronze Bow - Elizabeth George Speare

Roman occupiers. Jewish zealots fomenting rebellion. A boy bent on revenging his father's death. Jesus Christ. One powerful story -- (A / 6+)

Shadowmancer - G.P. Taylor

Taylor shows his familiarity with the northeast English landscape and English myths in this ambitious attempt at Christian fantasy -- (B / 6+)

Harry Potter (#1-5) - J.K. Rowling

Controversy surrounds this hugely popular fantasy series, but few deny Rowling possesses a wide imagination and keen sense of humor (B+ / 7+)

The Door Within - Wayne Thomas Batson

In the tradition of C.S. Lewis, Batson has written a rather solid Christian fantasy book which combines adventure and faith without coming across as being preachy. Aidan, the main character, enters the kingdom of Alleble through the "door within" and discovers what a Mighty King can do with a little pawn. (Rating: A- / Grade Level: 5+)

Eragon; Eldest - Christopher Paolini

Young fantasy writer Paolini shows great promise, cranking out the first two installments of what will likely be a solid trilogy. Young Eragon must strengthen his skills and his resolve if he ever hopes to challenge the evil Galbatorix. Tolkien, Lucas, and LeGuin are clear influences -- (A- / 7+)

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - C.S. Lewis

Certainly one of the finest of the Chronicles of Narnia, Dawn Treader is an exploration of tempation and the faithful Christian walk, resplendent with Lewis's imaginative power -- (A+ / 4+)

Atheists Worship Three Gods

2006-11-01T18:06:00.000-06:00

As I see it, atheists worship three gods: Nature, Coincidence, and Time. Let me explain.

When confronted with the astounding variety of life on Earth with all its manifested beauty, an atheist marvels at Nature's handiwork. When exploring the workings of the spinning tail of a bacteria, the atheist exclaims, "Look how resourceful Nature is, even producing sophisticated machines by modifying old genes for new uses." When peering into the intricate coding of DNA with its massive information content, Mr. Atheist expresses praise to clever Nature and her awe-inspiring ability to create something out of nothing. Need more evidence that this view is pervasive among atheists? Read the article titled "A Fin Is a Limb Is a Wing: How Evolution Fashioned Its Masterworks" in the Nov. '06 issue of National Geographic.

Close kin to the goddess Nature is the patient, persistent god called Time. Occasionally, an atheist may come face to face with a biological system that defies evolutionary explanation...one that's far removed from the next less complex system. Probability dictates that there is very little chance that random mutations generated the system with all its interdependent parts and functions. In a moment of great panic and need, Mr. Atheist calls upon Time; he seldom fails. After all, given enough time, Nature and Time can work together to perform the miraculous by gradually taking just the right concerted steps in just the right concerted sequence over, say, several hundred million years. Plus, Time has the ability to confound our finite minds, and so it is easy to persuade his followers that given enough eons, anything is possible.

If you ever have the pleasure, I mean opportunity, to present a truly unexplainable phenomenon to an atheist, he will appeal to another favorite god: Coincidence. He is a crafty deity, able to explain away any difficulty with surpassing ease. For example, suppose you send up a very specific prayer (be sure to write it down) to the Lord of the Universe which gets answered in a mighty way. When you discuss this great work of God with an atheist friend, he will wave his hand nonchalantly and attribute this convergence of events as the work of Coincidence. He then need not trouble himself about it anymore. Coincidence, indeed, seems a very powerful god to our unbelieving friends.

Ivanhoe, Conquered

2006-10-30T22:31:00.000-06:00

Ivanhoe - Sir Walter Scott, B+

After a long pull, I've made it through this classic historical novel. I can't say that I loved the experience, though neither did I dislike it.

"...imagine what a Snickers tastes like after having eaten a delicious mango or luscious nectarine."

Ivanhoe portrays 12th century England with a Romantic flair. As expected, the reader finds glaring hypocricies interposed with moments of chivalry; blind prejudices contrasted with holy sacrifices. One respects its hero, cherishes its heroine Rebecca, and laughs appropriately at the pomp and masquerading of "holy" men and royal officials. Scott has woven his tapestry using threads of legend, strands of history (though at times very inaccurately), and golden ribbons of romance to create a narrative that moves along at a moderate pace. Though I am susceptible to distraction, I was able to finish the book, which says something.

Overall, my response can best be described by imagining what a Snickers tastes like after having eaten a delicious mango or luscious nectarine. You enjoy the pastry, but not in the same way. Ivanhoe does not compare to works by C.S. Lewis or Homer, but certainly it far outpaces most modern fiction. It is a book that one reads because it seems everyone has read it; and it must be good if everyone has read it. While the book is worthy of no small praise, I would not recommend it to the casual reader, the reader looking for deep truths, or those with little time for frivolities.

Aquanaut

2006-10-28T20:09:00.000-05:00

Aquanaut (Abstract No. 2)

I just returned from a men's conference and will post a few of my reflections by the end of the weekend. Blessings!

The Writer, The Voyeur

2006-10-24T20:32:00.000-05:00

During my first visit to John's site, Blog Meridian, his recent post struck a chord with me. He explores the random evidences that lives are being lived all around him, lives with which he has no contact but through glimpses into the public-private narratives being spun day by day.

Ever since I was a kid delivering newspapers, I've had a fascination with the narratives undergirding other people's lives. At times, you can almost see how close the web of their lives and social connections/interactions comes to your own. Truly, I don't think I've ever escaped this fascination.

Perhaps the great writers of the world have all been "voyeurs" in some sense. It is those who are truly awake to their surroundings and the wonders of the human space who are able to capture characters realistically, to encapsulate our struggles in a simple narrative, to distill all life into an extended metaphor that just rings with truth. Whimsical musings about the events that transpired to leave, say, a wine glass on a bridge rail (as in John's example) can be excellent practice for a budding author. Sometimes, even, such simple images can inspire entire novels.

For a writer to stop observing is to die.

The Limits of the Human Brain

2006-10-24T19:40:00.000-05:00

1 = 0.999...
(1 equals .9 repeating)

I just read several of the really simple mathematical proofs of the above equation, and while my brain agrees with the proofs, another part of my brain seems like it is trying to disagree. It's a really weird feeling! Truly, our human brains have limits. I can't wait to visit with the Creator and share a good laugh about all the incredible mathematical puzzles He gave us to occupy our time and show us our shortcomings.

The Forgotten Statue

2006-10-23T20:44:00.000-05:00

Frozen in a moment of time
Yes, frozen, as most statues are
And marble too: mostly cold and
Still, in a forgotten place without
Anyone to wonder who she was
Or how she came to be memorialized
In stone. So cold and alone
She sits by a well in eternal service,
Forever offering water to passers-by
Who never come or come unthirsty
Like Christ, who understands
What it means to be forgotten by most
As He waits, and offers, and is thought
Cold and stone like most statues are.

God as Romantic, Pt. 2

2006-10-22T16:32:00.000-05:00

God does have a relationship with us that mirrors the relationship between husband and wife. That being said, think back to when romantic gifts and gestures were the most frequent: courtship. These things may serve to woe a mate, but they are not the foundation of a solid marriage.

As a marriage matures (past the honeymoon), romantic gifts are infrequent, and therefore are a poor barometer for how a mate feels about his/her spouse. Self-sacrifice, service, and affirmation are the tools of a dedicated spouse to communicate true love to his/her significant other.

In addition, not all signs have a special meaning. It is all too easy to see a heart-shaped rock, assume God is smiling at me, and continue with my life--even if I have major sins in my life. I imagine that Satan could have a field-day with sign-dropping in order to mislead fallen Christians (or unbelievers!) into thinking that all is well with their souls.

Thank you, Ariel, for bringing Tim's critique to my attention. It started a helpful discussion at my house!

Is God a Hopeless Romantic?

2006-10-22T13:42:00.001-05:00

Over at Challie's, John Eldredge's new book has come under fire for his claim that God shows romantic love to all of us (we just have to look for it). I agree largely with Tim's response. It's not that I don't think that the Lord loves us, it's that He loves us with a sacrificial, I-want-the-best-for-you love.

We don't need, nor should we expect from God, special love notes.

In Scripture, we don't see the romantic love that Eldredge dwells on whether you look at OT references to Israel being the Lord's chosen people (even with the adultery references), the few places in SOS that might be taken to be symbolic of God's relationship with us, or NT references to the Church being the bride of Christ. Romantic love is feelings-oriented, experience-driven, and temporary. God's love--as described in the NT using the word "agape"--is unconditional, active, and eternal. This is the kind of love we need, and that everyone can receive. We don't need, nor should we expect from God, special love notes.

It seems that Eldredge (and several other writers and song-writers) look at human interactions and human nature and assume that God feels and acts the same way we do. We give romantic gifts when things are going well with our relationship and we want to show that we are pleased with our mate. If God does send a heart-shaped rock to me, does that mean He is pleased with me and feels romantic? What if He doesn't send me any signs? Is He displeased? What if He sends trouble and pain? The danger with looking for signs is that "not all that glitters is gold," and signs are unpredictable. God's love is constant and sure, never-failing or relenting even when we fail Him. This kind of love makes me want to seek hard after the Lord, not supposed romantic signs from above.

I worship a Lord who showed His love in much more powerful and meaningful ways...

This brings up a key issue regarding theology (practical or otherwise) and human attempts to describe God. One cannot be too careful what metaphor one uses to illustrate the character of the Lord. As an illustration, suppose I wanted to point to God's strength and righteous indignation. I might call Him a "roaring lion," but my readers would get the wrong impression, namely, they would think of Satan. On the other hand, if I call Him "the Lion of the Tribe of Judah," then I would hit the mark.

Closing thought: When Eldredge uses the heart illustration, he denotes the mushy boyfriend-girlfriend relationship characteristic of teenage puppy love. I worship a Lord who showed His love in much more powerful and meaningful ways: He sent His Son to die for me and He prepares a place for me in the eternal Kingdom of God.

One Drop of Mercy

2006-10-20T07:59:00.000-05:00

During the small group Bible study that my wife and I attend, the discussion leader broached the classic question, "Does God have one 'perfect' person for you to marry, or is it our responsibility to choose wisely from among 'the trees of the forest'?" Not surprisingly, the question wasn't answered and we moved on to other matters of study. However, this morning, it occured to me that this question actually mirrors another classic question, "Does God choose who will be saved or do we choose to accept Him?" It is this issue that has divided churches, fueled heated debates, and left every (wise) theologian somewhat at a loss for words. Having said this, I'll avoid answering the question but will seek to perhaps refocus the discussion.

None of us deserve one drop of mercy though He pours out the whole cup like oil upon our heads.

When people struggle with the issue of predestination, I don't think that they truly doubt that God has chosen some to be saved and that others will not be saved. Scripture is clear on this. Romans 9:22-24 says,

"What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath–prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory–even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?"

What people struggle with is why a loving God would create someone for destruction--that He would not choose some for salvation. My lowly mind cannot fully grasp the answer. Yet, I hold on to this: I know that He is fully deserving to "make the riches of his glory known" so that we would praise Him for who He really is. If that means He does this by saving some and not others so that we would deeply appreciate His salvation and mercy, so be it! Who are we but earthen vessels? Should we then scoff at the Potter's hands and His merciful plans? None of us deserve one drop of mercy though He pours out the whole cup like oil upon our heads. Turn to praise Him, and then seek to do His will among the nations. Amen.

Lilith - George MacDonald, A

2006-10-17T18:58:00.000-05:00

Review--Seek to Lose Your Life

Lilith - George MacDonald
My Rating: A

In this, MacDonald's second dream fantasy, the author weaves a tale of paradox and wonder, beauty, longing, and sweet despair. The main current that flows through the whole work is the deep spiritual truth that "...whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it" (Luke 9:24).

In Lilith, the reader accompanies Mr. Vane, the narrator, through a mystical mirror into a fantastical world of seven dimensions. There, he encounters Mr. Raven, who serves largely as his guide and, in a way, his mentor. Given very little information about his new world, Vane is told in cryptic fashion that to understand where he is, he must first make himself at home in a world where everything is strange, even the laws of nature. When he asks for elaboration, he is told that he must do something--anything--in this land he's in. In this cryptical way, we are reminded that the only way to fail in life when the Spirit of God quickens us is to do nothing with our lives. Stagnation is close kin to Death.

Shortly afterward, Mr. Raven tells him that to get home, he must first "go through" himself. In a way, Raven spends the entirety of his journey figuring out what this means. After he comes to the proverbial "end of his rope," when he is hanging over the flames of self-pity and doubt, he surrenders to Raven's plan and lies down to sleep with the dead. It is through dying that he finds life; and, having passed through the wasteland of his own heart, he finds the One who waits to set him free from himself.

Those of you who have read the book may wonder why I have skipped discussing Lilith, whose name happens to be the title. Perhaps after I read the book a second time and explore the mythology behind the character, I'll understand her role enough to attempt to include her in the review. :)

Readers of Lilith will find great treasures of truth, though they will have to wade through MacDonald's trademark platitude-filled style that is at times over-dedactic. Here are a selection of shining gems:

“Why know the name of a thing when the thing itself you do not know? Whose work is it but your own to open your eyes? But indeed the business of the universe is to make such a fool of you that you will know yourself for one, and so begin to be wise.”

“The life of her face and her whole person was gathered and concentrated in her eyes, where it became light…A whole night-heaven lay condensed in each pupil; all the stars were in its blackness, and flashed; while round it for a horizon lay coiled an iris of eternal twilight…The still face might be a primeval perfection; the live eyes were a continuous creation.”

"The part of philanthropist is indeed a dangerous one; and the man who would do his neighbor good must first study how not to do him evil, and must begin by pulling the beam out of his own eye."

"Self-loathing is not sorrow. Yet it is good, for it marks a step in the way home, and in the father's arms the prodigal forgets the self he abominates."

"When a man dreams his own dream, he is the sport of his dream; when Another gives it him, that Other is able to fulfill it."

This book is listed on my Master Book List.

Simplify Your Life--Use RSS

2006-10-17T18:25:00.000-05:00

Looking for a way to read this blog regularly without having to visit the site? Subscribe to my feed and use your favorite feed-reader. You can subscribe to as many different feeds as you want and read them from one location. Click on the feed button below and enjoy!

Don't forget, I always appreciate comments and feedback (no pun intended). This site is humble, but I'll try to be a blessing to my readers.

I use bloglines

Abundant Rains on a Dry Heart

2006-10-16T18:29:00.000-05:00

Rain finally falls on drought-striken East Texas. As I watch the waters begin to penetrate the ground, I am reminded of my heart. You see, when rain first falls on dry earth, much of it runs off into gullies or down hills. It is not until after a thorough soaking rain that the ground begins to really drink deeply and find wet satisfaction.

In the same way, after days (or sometimes weeks) of not drinking deeply from the Living Well, my heart becomes hardened. When the Word begins to fall like rain onto crusted soil, much of it runs off at first to little effect beneath the surface. It is only after continual drenching in the Word of Truth that the soil begins to absorb moisture, expand, and nourish the spiritual life that lies dormant during such dry spells.

There is one difference between what I see this afternoon and what I see when I look within. I am convicted that droughts of the heart are self-imposed; no follower of the Way need ever thirst again.

M&E--Can't I Conform Just a Little?

2006-10-14T17:10:00.000-05:00

While Christians are called not to conform any longer to the pattern of this world, I have a difficult time recognizing this error in the day to day activity of life. Now, I'm not talking about the obvious situations, such as a Christian who cusses, cheats on his wife, and looks to all the world like a man destined for the same eternal reward as shall be theirs when death finds them out. I'm talking about what Spurgeon calls the "little inconsistencies," those slight variations from our conformity to Christ. He says,

"Even small inconsistencies are dangerous. Little thorns make great blisters, little moths destroy fine garments, and little frivolities and little rogueries will rob religion of a thousand joys."

In my life, these worldly echoes, these minor unconformities, often escape my attention. And, in a Christian culture where one is considered at the top of his class if he simply remains married, few other brothers notice when I miss the mark. Perhaps the area that concerns me most, and for which I have no clear direction, is how I spend my leisure time.

I enjoy video games, always have. My generation has been blessed/cursed from our youth. We've grown up with the Internet and higher definition graphics than our fathers ever dreamed of when they went to work and used punch cards to run calculations. This fondness for video games, clearly, is shared by many of my brothers in Christ. In many circles, Halo 2 has taken the place of poker night or bowling. It is this area that has never remained settled in my mind. I know the arguments concerning "gray areas," and by and large, my conscience doesn't dictate that I avoid video games. I also know that a person needs down time to be recharged and useful again when he rises. However, I still have a difficult time reconciling my thirst for leisure with Spurgeon's words,

"Jesus gave both His hands to the nails, how can I keep back one of mine from His blessed work? Night and day He toiled and prayed for me, how can I give a single hour to the pampering of my flesh with luxurious ease?"

The question, then, is "When does relaxation merge into idleness? It is the "little foxes" that can wreak havoc in a marriage; it is the little worldly echoes that can keep us from putting our whole-hearted devotion into serving the Lord.

Life Imitates Art

2006-10-10T21:13:00.000-05:00

"Art imitates Life; Life imitates Art."

Reflecting on the bittersweetness of creation and art in our fallen world, I was reminded of these two pictures. To me, they illustrate an intriguing interplay between art and life whereby great art begets great creators.

Case in point: Italian children building a sand-castle draw forth from their imagination majestic spires and arches, mental outlines of columns reaching to the heavens, buttresses and pinnacles. When they create, the masterpieces embedded in their memories lend their poetic power to their clever hands. Walking down the streets of Florence, they see Beauty on display, celebrated, revered, perhaps sometimes worshipped. Yet, as Christians in America, I fear we've lost this sense of the aesthetic nature of existence and creation. I wonder if the recent trend to expose our young children to classical music and paintings by the masters is not that far off base.

As I've struggled to unleash that stubborn novel residing in self-imposed exile in the dank and crumbling castle of my brain, I have thought, "If only I expose myself to enough great literature, pershaps some of that greatness will teach my hands how to write, train my brain how to tease out stunning metaphors, give insight to my floundering imagination. Then, maybe then, something decent will be written from these humble fingers.

But, then again, there is this decimating paradox. Surrounded by greatness, I aspire to greatness; yet, I know full well that I will fall short. I don't even begin to try. And nothing gets written. Again.

I've resigned myself to the fact that I may never weave a storied tapestry this side of Heaven. I hold out hope that there will be a demand for storytellers in Paradise and that pershaps then, without sin to encumber--no laziness, no distractions, no pride--something of worth will be added to the community of the Blessed. Until then, I rejoice. After all, today has work enough of its own, and that work frequently is more than bittersweet.

Your Feet Know the Way

2006-10-05T21:27:00.000-05:00

An old poem I wrote begins:

"I was there with Augustine
Shaking the branches of the pear tree,
And as we shook, each pear fell
Like a tear from Christ's own eyes."

Probably because I began following Christ as a 17-year-old, one part of Augustine's testimony that resonates with me is his account of the wild days of his youth. I know too well what it means to sin for the sake of sinning; or, to put it another way, to sin boldly. Having been forgiven much, Augustine expresses the depths of his gratitude that Christ reached out and grabbed him, placing his two feet squarely on the narrow path that had been scorned moments before. The Saved know how blind they were to this blessed path--the journeyway to the great City--that all the time lay before them. Once we set foot on this path, our feet tell us that they had been itching to walk it all along, had we but been willing to listen to the humbler parts of our body instead of the prideful mind.

With Augustine in Another Man's Garden

2006-10-04T22:27:00.000-05:00

I was there with Augustine
Shaking the branches of the pear tree,
And as we shook, each pear fell
Like a tear from Christ's own eyes.

No, I can't tell you the pears tasted sweet
Like Eve's own plunder in the garden,
But that wasn't the point. We took
Because they weren't ours to take.

Our laughter rang out in the violent night
As we tasted the bitter fruit
And loved it. The swine too thanked us
For the stolen fruit, the fruit of another man's labor.

Yet now, I think back to those ignorant years
With remorse for the blood I shed; it seems
Each day brought new pleasures to indulge,
And ever sin drove another nail into Christ's hand

I thank Him because I will not be there
Among those who will drink the wrathful cup
Pressed from grapes of God's anger,
Reserved for children of sin, unrepentant.

Bloggerhead

2006-10-03T21:16:00.000-05:00

Bloggerhead (bla-g&r-hed) noun. 1. one who spends an inordinate amount of time writing, reading, and discussing blogs 2. the leader of a discussion topic on a blog 3. a person willing to sacrifice sleep in order to share his thoughts, opinions, and beliefs with the world

As with all good things, blogging can become an addiction. There is a fine balance between building a blogging community and fostering discussion, and...well...mild insanity. Lord willing, as I dive into Ruminations I will be able to strike this balance and still be faithful to my meager (though appreciated) reading audience.

If you can identify with this post, say AMEN (then go blog about it).

I am a Ragamuffin

2006-10-01T16:28:00.000-05:00

I am a Ragamuffin, I know that full well. Yet, I am learning the blessedness of acknowledging my sin and living as a confessed, freed sinner. Would that I had learned this truth...I mean really learned this truth...several years ago when first I read Brennan Manning's book The Ragamuffin Gospel. But, truth has a way of trickling out of rebellious ears, especially young ears full of New-Christian enthusiasm.

So here I am, seven years later, countless sins later, and perhaps now I have but a taste of what it means to live in the glorious freedom of Christ. I revel in this truth: I don't have to hide my sins; the Light has already found them out, having scoured my soul with its painful sweetness, and having driven them far from my house of flesh. Oh, that I could be as clean on the inside as those whitewashed tombs were on the outside. Yes, I know that in God's eyes, I am clean; I will be dressed in white on that appointed day, but that doesn't stop me from yearning all the more for soul-deep purity.

These feelings, too, are welcomed by a Ragamuffin. Spurgeon writes in Morning and Evening (Oct. 1),

"Old sins we must regret, but then we have had repentances which He has given us, by which we have wept our way to the cross, and learned the merit of His blood."

There is purpose for sin in a Christian's life, for grace does abound all the more. May we never use this as an excuse, but let us also never forget to be thankful for the forgiveness and superabounding mercy of our Savior.

"Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." Luke 7:47

Fact or Opinion?

2006-10-01T15:08:00.000-05:00

Fact or Opinion: "Stealing is wrong."

Fact or Opinion: "Belshazzar was a very poor ruler."

Fact or Opinion: "You are an unrighteous person."

As I was evaluating my students' results on their Accelerated Reader quizzes, I observed that quite a few struggle to discern fact from opinion. In an effort to ameliorate this condition, I set about immediately to define for them exactly what is "fact" and what is "opinion." No doubt, I failed miserably. Why, You ask? Because the issue is much more complicated than one would think at first. But, I'll let you be the judge...

I began by defining "opinion" as an evaluation, judgment, or decision about an event or thing. In short, it's a person's thoughts regarding some external reality. As you also know, opinions can vary from person to person and over time. They are considered not falsifiable and are therefore relative/subjective.

Then, I defined "fact" as that which is true (and in actuality--IS), that which can be proven scientifically, and that which has actually happened. A fact is objective and concrete.

After this, I addressed their common tendency to call an opinion a fact if that opinion is an obvious one that everyone or almost everyone shares. For example, students would likely say that the claim, "Sunsets are beautiful" is a fact because they can't think of anyone that would disagree. Commonly held opinions are not facts.

Then it dawned on me, the only person whose opinions become facts would be God Himself. That really set me thinking, and I'm still not done with the thought.

When God says, "Stealing is wrong," it is a fact because He was the One who set this objective standard and declared this statement to be true.

"I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right." Isa. 45:19b

When God judges a man and finds him lacking, that man is, in reality, lacking since he has fallen short of the divine standard. I think here of Belshazzar when God says in Daniel 5:27, "You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting." Continuing in this vein, in Romans 3:23 Paul says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Finally, I also think about Jesus being the Word, He who is not only the very expression of the Father's thoughts toward the Creation, but also the One who spoke the Creation into existence. And what was his opinion about what He had made?

"And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, [it was] very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day." Genesis 1:31

So what, you ask? There are several implications. For one, we cannot come up with our own system of morality as some men have tried to do. They have failed because we cannot express an opinion about right and wrong and have it become objective reality. We can make the claim that it is an opinion that everyone shares and call it a "fact," but it will only have the threat of human-dealt consequences behind it to give it weight. Man-made morality leads to totalitarianism of the worst sort, for without a standard to follow, there is no telling what heinous acts can be called "right" and what truly righteous acts will be labelled "wrong."

This post is becoming unwieldly, so I will end it here. I will write a second post responding to the dangerous claim that religious views are just opinions.

Education and the Christian

2006-09-27T22:55:00.000-05:00

As an educator at a Christian school, I am surrounded daily by the issue Michael Spencer raises in his recent post. I am certainly no expert, and I'll need to revisit this topic several times before my thoughts will be cogent. Well, here goes...

Perhaps the best gauge of our effectiveness at educating the next generation is the percentage of students who attend classes in order to engage the material and LEARN as opposed to simply doing what is required to make a good grade. Using this bench mark, we are failing miserably. As Debra comments on Spencer's site, far too many students pursue higher education for the sole purpose of getting a good job, making money, blah blah blah. And we parents have modelled this perfectly, haven't we?

I also agree that the root problem is not simply Christian opposition to education, but the failure of Christians to be different from American culture. I don't place the blame solely on our own shoulders. I believe that the Prince of this world has managed to fit us into this mold using the educational institution itself. Follow me here. Students are prepared their whole school career, it seems, to be able to do well on their college entrance exams. These exams do not properly address critical thinking skills, one's attitude toward learning, or one's ability to make connections across disciplines. Since all humans tend to take the path of least resistance, students do just enough to qualify--that is to say, they learn how to do the basic skills required and little else. How can we expect to produce top-quality scholars if this is all we require of them?

I foresee that if we are to clear this hurdle and develop strong, vigorous minds full of truth, we must establish a new standard of excellence, one that requires that students can 1) think clearly in an organized fashion, 2) form original ideas, 3) evaluate arguments, 4) identify biases and cultural backgrounds, and 5) connect all subjects in an unified way that allows them to see the world more like God sees it.

A great evangelical university? It can be done. Who will do it? Who has the courage to break out of the current environment and set a new standard for entry into such a university? We can't win this game if we allow the world to make the rules...

M&E--Sound the Trumpet

2006-09-26T21:42:00.000-05:00

While I am perhaps unfit to post anything derogatory about Joel Osteen and his Prosperity Gospel peers, it is time to revisit a topic that has been on my heart recently. I will try to abstain from the type of diatribe that my strong feelings on this subject tend to evoke.

Spurgeon's words in Morning and Evening for Sept. 20 reminded me of the recent trend in the Evangelical world that troubles me most: Failure to proclaim sin boldly. Can our love for the lost be so cold that we shirk our duty to proclaim the first crucial tenet of the precious Gospel? Spurgeon had it right:

"Take the gospel to them; carry it to their door; put it in their way; do not suffer them to escape it; blow the trumpet right against their ears."

And yet, the Evangelical world removes crosses from its sanctuaries, removes sin from its sermons, removes anything so negative as owning up to our own deep deep depravity all for the sake of drawing the lost to us instead of taking the Gospel to their doorstep in all its potent glory. We have gone far from blowing the trumpet "right against their ears," and are instead in danger of losing our voice altogether as we shout our own praises.

We seek so hard not to offend that the largest Evangelical church in America is led by a man who says,

"It's not a churchy feel...We don't have crosses up there. We believe in all that, but I like to take the barriers down that have kept people from coming." Source: Fox News

Have we gone so far that 35,000 of us follow a man who summarily refers to crosses with the term "all that" and whose primary focus is to give people a feel-good boost instead of the words of Christ? If the cross will keep people from coming to church, how can we expect them to be willing to "Take up this cross" and follow the Lord?

If we refuse even to hang crosses lest we offend some, this is like a man who marries a woman and does not let her out of the house, nor does he tell anyone that he is married to her. The man reaps the benefits of having a wife, but in his heart despises her. This is the essence of cheapening the precious blood of Christ, shed for sin and the reconciliation of poor sinners such as I.

Brother Spurgeon exhorts us to proclaim Christ's words boldly: sin, wretchedness, and all, instead of suppressing them with the intent of drawing larger crowds. If Jesus Himself could draw crowds of thousands while at the same time speaking a harder word than the Prophets, we have nothing to fear when we proclaim truth. Speak. Shout. They will come.

Morning & Evening--The Hearts of Children

2006-09-20T21:55:00.000-05:00

As often as my undisciplined self wakes up in the morning to meet with God, I have been using Spurgeon's Morning and Evening. Few things work better to jump start my day than an old kick in the spiritual pants. Over the last several days, I've been hit with some great insights that need to be written down lest they be left to wallow in the deep oblivion of my brain. Here is the first of several:

Spurgeon gives an impassioned call to prayer for our children, saying:

"O for more agonizing prayer on their behalf while they are yet babes! Sin is there, let us begin to attack it. Our cries for our offspring should precede those cries which betoken their actual advent into the world of sin."

I know full well that depravity resides in the hearts of my children. It ravishes quiet evenings at home with the familiar fights over toys, reluctance to eat anything resembling food, and the great bedtime battle.

Yet, I am struck that we are unable even to cure such a heart...a heart that is still so new to this world and its creeping tendrils of envy, lust, and pride. That a four-year-old can so forcefully insist on her own way and resist so diligently the efforts to mold her will to holiness is plentiful proof that we are not enough for our children. We must run to the Lord in prayer.

"Ungodly children, when they show us our own powerlessness against the depravity of their hearts, drive us to flee to the strong for strength..."

Spirit

2006-09-11T08:34:00.000-05:00

September 11, 2006

The Lamb

2006-09-09T20:51:00.000-05:00

The afternoon path led me through several valleys to this one, vibrant green with spring freshness and the recent rain, brown from the heather thickly blanketing the hills. But the sight that most caught my attention was the lamb, newborn white, staring at me from atop an ancient stone wall. His eyes were filled to the brim with wonder, glorying in the Welsh hills and the fresh, vivid air. He stared at me for just a moment then was gone.

My eyes followed the lamb as he joined brothers and sisters frolicking and bounding through the endless hills, playing a game with rules unknown to me. How does one describe such...life?

Later on, I found the sheep: matted, wet, looking forlorn and huddled on the hillside. Each one was stained the color that their master had chosen for them. As I watched them face the burdens of the day, it hit me: all we like sheep have gone astray.

(This was written several years ago when I was in Britain but never published.)

One Book...

2006-09-07T22:47:00.001-05:00

1. One book that changed your life. The book of James (Bible). I read this before accepting Christ as my Savior, and its hard-hitting call to holiness struck a chord.

2. One book that you have read more than once. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by Tolkien.

3. One book you’d want on a desert island. Anything with a lot of pages so I could get that first fire started without too much trouble.

4. One book that made you laugh. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader but probably only because laughter keeps me sane when I read it three times a year (three times a day) with my students. I do enjoy Lewis's subtle humor.

5. One book that made you cry. Brave New World. Although I didn't cry when I read the book, thinking about how accurate Huxley was to today's society makes me want to shed tears of sorrow.

6. One book that you wish had been written. My yet to be written story about Newgate Prison and the blessedness of persecution.

7. One book that you wish had never been written. Darwin's Origin of Species because of the consequent devaluing of human life...

8. One Book that you’re currently reading. Ivanhoe (but it's taking forever because I am looking up all the history I should have learned years ago).

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read. Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis

10. One book you started to read but never finished. Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer (but not because of lack of interest but more likely lack of holiness on my part)

Now tag five people. I'd love it if you'd tag yourself and respond. Then leave a comment linking to your post...

I Am Blessed

2006-08-23T22:26:00.000-05:00

I have the best job in the world. This year, I am teaching English and Latin (yes, I've jetisoned math...though that was an enjoyable stint). Since we've recently changed our curriculum, I've been developing several novel studies, the first being Howard Pyle's The Story of King Arthur and His Knights. Through this, I have learned so much British history that I did not know; I've come face to face with how little I really DO know.

Plus, in preparing for Latin, I've filled some major gaps in my understanding of Roman history. What a blessing it is to have a job were you get to learn all the time. As if the students don't provide enough variety, there's Junius Brutus and Riothamus and Richard the Lion-Hearted...

In my spare time, as you might have seen on the book list, I've been reading Ivanhoe. As I read, I have been looking up people and events that I do not know/remember. Example: who was Eumeus? What happened between Charlemagne and the Saracens? Why was Coer de Leon imprisoned? Wikipedia has become a close friend.

Journey on!

Commonality Across the Ages

2006-08-07T23:31:00.000-05:00

I have long believed that we are not that different from our ancestors, even our ancient, ancient forebears. Our essential natures have not changed. And I argue that technological advancements do not make us more "advanced" as a people. If medicine or other technological means allow us to live until we are 80 yet we live in misery until our final breath, how have such things benefited us? Longer life does not equal better life, nor does less work equal more play and pleasure.

This is good news for writers of historical fiction, since one has only to study relatively few details--historical facts and technology differences--to be able to write believable stories. The human being is desperately complex, and always has been, but we know ourselves all too well.

The following exerpt says this much better than I have just done:

"The passions, the sources from which these must spring in all their modifications, are generally the same in all ranks and conditions, all countries and ages; and it follows, as a matter of course, that the opinions, habits of thinking, and actions, however influenced by the peculiar state of society, must still, upon the whole, bear a strong resemblance to each other. Our ancestors were not more distinct from us, surely, than Jews are from Christians; they had "eyes, hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions;" were "fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer," as ourselves. The tenor, therefore, of their affections and feelings, must have borne the same general proportion to our own."

From: Dedicatory Epistle To The Rev. Dr Dryasdust, F.A.S. which precedes Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott

Master Book List :: My Recent Reads

2006-08-04T16:15:00.018-05:00

Cryptonomicon - Neal Stephenson

Dune - Frank Herbert

Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein

A man raised by Martians returns to Earth and seeks to instruct humans in the path to true happiness: 1) throw away traditional morality, 2) explore physical and mental oneness through telepathy, 3) never forget "thou art god." Tastes a bit like Eastern mysticism. Not one of Heinlein's strongest, Stranger disappoints. (Rating: C+ / B.L.: ADULT)

Shadow Puppets - Orson Scott Card

In a world torn by war, Bean and Petra seek to find meaning in life even as they work to defeat their archenemy Achilles. Not as strong as the previous books, SP feels a bit forced at times. The ending however will satisfy. (Rating: A- /B.L.: 8+)

Shadow of the Hegemon - Orson Scott Card

The war against the Buggers has ended...Bean and the other Battle School grads now face a threat just as insidious--Achilles. Deftly weaving military strategy with themes of family, ambition, and belonging, Card reveals his skill in creating believable futures. (Rating: A / B.L.: 8+)

Ender's Shadow - Orson Scott Card

Possessed with a terrifyingly powerful intelligence, Bean comes alongside Ender as they give their innocence to protect the human race. Told from Bean's perspective, this novel certainly does enrich the story found in Ender's Game though some readers may chafe as Card rehashes events. (Rating: A / B.L.: 8+)

Once an Arafat Man - Tass Saada

A former sniper for the Palestinian rebel group Fatah, Tass Saada now works to reconcile enemies in the Middle East who have fought for thousands of years. This powerful narrative of his conversion also helps the reader see Muslims and Arabs in a new light. (Grade: A / B.L.: 9+)

Brisingr - Christopher Paolini

Within Paolini's well-crafted fantasy world, Alagaesia, Eragon and Saphira strive to fulfill their promises to the various races united against evil King Galbatorix as his enemy's power begins to grow. Paolini's skill has improved: figurative language and descriptive passages are stronger, the prose is more gripping, and character development succeeds in drawing the reader into the lives of the characters. Story continues in book 4... (Rating: A+ / B.L.: 6+)

The Shack - William Paul Young
After tragedy strikes his family, a grieving father has an encounter with the Heavenly Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that reshapes his views of life and the problem of pain. The Shack reads a bit more like a shallow theological discourse than a novel, and Young's characterization of the Father touches on the irreverent side. However, it gets the reader contemplating truths vital to a full life. (Rating: B / G.L.: 6+)

A Game of Thrones - George R. R. Martin

A tale of political intrigue, battles, and becoming, A Game of Thrones is set in a fantasy world where the seasons can last a whole decade. Martin follows the lives of a multitude of characters as they each face the fallout of a fight for the throne of the Seven Kingdoms. A bit lengthy...climax could be stronger. (Rating: B / B.L.: Adult)

The Infinite Day - Chris Walley

In the satisfying conclusion to the Lamb Among the Stars trilogy, Merral and the Assembly face their greatest test yet as the Dominion sweeps across the Made Worlds toward Earth. A tale of sacrifice and faith, prayer and redemption, The Infinite Day will be well worth your time. (Rating: A / G.L. 6+)

The Dark Foundations - Chris Walley

Merral and crew discover the truth behind the words, "a house divided against itself cannot stand" even as they wrestle with their own deceptive hearts. The action intensifies in this second of three books as Farholme is lashed by the storms of war. (Rating: A+ / G.L.: 6+)

Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller

Gritty, No-holds barred non-fiction from Miller stands as the antithesis to modern Christianity and all its trappings. Read Blue Like Jazz for a challenge to return to the roots of faith, roots sunk deep into the real world yet not tainted by its curse. (Rating: A+ / B.L. 8+)

The Shadow and Night - Chris Walley

Finally! Modern Christian science fiction that can truly claim to be descendant from C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. Set thousands of years in the future on a Made World on the edge of the settled universe, Shadow tells the story of a Eden-like world that once more must face the corrupting, insideous evil that spoiled our world so long ago. Hard to summarize...a must read. (Rating: A+ / G.L. 6+)

The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien

Tolkien's storytelling genius first enthralled the world in The Hobbit, full of adventure and danger, elves, dragons, and dwarves. Join Bilbo Baggins as he makes the perilous journey to the Lonely Mountain to recover an ancient dwarven treasure. (Rating: A+ / G.L.: 4+)

Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card

Top-notch science fiction with a satisfying twist. Ender, boy military genius, the hope of the world, struggles to chart his own course in the universe despite the puppeteer's entangling strings. (Rating: A+ / B.L.: 7+)

That Hideous Strength - C. S. Lewis

Reality, God's grand thoughts played out upon the tapestry of time, invades the lives of three groups of people in THS: the obedient blessed, the cursed blind, and the deciding. Lewis explores angelic influences in the affairs of men culminating in a microcosmic foretaste of the Final Battle yet to come. (Grade: A / G.L.: 8+)

House (audiobook)- Frank Peretti & Ted Dekker

Peretti & Dekker expand the Christian thriller genre with this title, an examination of the horrors of the unregenerate heart. While the authors' prolific imaginations add interest, those looking for spiritual truths will be mildly disappointed. (Rating: B / G.L. 8+)

China Road (audiobook)- Rob Gifford

This former Beijing NPR correspondent travels 3000 miles from Shanghai to the Kazakh border, chronicling China's tumultuous present and pondering its deep historical roots. Gifford provides a balanced view--his love/hate relationship with China spurs him to point out the country's greatness and great vices. (Rating: A / G.L. 7+)

This Present Darkness (audiobook) - Frank Peretti

As a demonic conspiracy builds in Ashton, USA, two newspaper reporters and a preacher seek to save their families and their town. Peretti reminds the reader that spiritual warfare surrounds us all, and prayer can make all the difference. Though a bit aged now, TPD still tops Christian booklists. (Rating: B+ / G.L. 6+)

1984 - George Orwell

Winston Smith, the tragic "hero," rebels against the totalitarian regime which grips his hopeless world, putting him on an inevitable collision course with his destiny in the depths of bureaucratic hell. This tragedy will leave you thinking even as it will leave you cold inside. Certainly, Orwell's classic dystopian nightmare still haunts modern society, especially as surveillance of individuals reaches all time highs and critical thinking all time lows. (Rating: A- / G.L.: 11+)

Perelandra - C. S. Lewis

George MacDonald's influence clearly emerges in this second book of the Space Trilogy. While philosophical discussions do tend to bog down the story, Lewis's exploration of temptation and his imaginative treatment of a world where "Adam" did not sin makes for a worthwhile read. The "Great Dance" narrative will give you a headache, but it does reveal an awe-inspiring glimpse of God's sovereign plan for the universe. (Rating: A- / G.L. 8+)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter demonstrates to the wizarding world the power of sacrifice, loyalty, and love as he battles Voldemort in Rowling's last HP book...an outstanding finale. Parents, screen the book for your children due to language use and some shocking imagery. (Rating: A / G.L. 7+)

Out of the Silent Planet - C. S. Lewis

In the first book of Lewis's Space Trilogy, Dr. Ransom encounters intelligent life on Malacandra (Mars) and gains a deeper understanding of mankind's condition. -- (Rating: A / B.L. 7+)

Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

After delving into the depraved depths of the human heart, Dostoyevsky proves that just a drop of redemptive love can bring heaven to earth and can release a soul from the hellish cage of pride and sin. -- (Rating: A+ / G.L. 10+)

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich - Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Russia has few authors who can match Solzhenitsyn's power. This account of life in a Soviet labor camp reminds us that you cannot break a man without his permission. -- (Rating: A+ / Grade Level: 10+)

Ivanhoe - Sir Walter Scott

Ivanhoe remains the stereotypical Romantic vision of 12th century England, replete with hypocritical monks, desirous knights, treasonous royalty, and the chivalrous protagonist giving his last bit of life to save the day and rescue the girl. -- (Rating: B+ /Grade Level: 10+)

Lilith - George MacDonald

An intriguing and fantastical look at the paradox "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." -- (Rating: A / Grade Level: 11+)

The Silmarillion - J.R.R. Tolkien

Truly discover Middle Earth and the depths of Tolkien's imagination in this hugely proportioned epic history -- (A+ / 8+)

Paradise Lost - John Milton

Perfection. Temptation. Man sins. Death begins. A difficult read but a beautiful epic. Simply beautiful. (A+ / 11+)

Bruchko - Bruce Olson

Olson's autobiographical account of his work with the reclusive, highly dangerous Motilone Indian tribe in Venezuela is a must read for anyone interested in seeing faith lived out in the flesh -- (A+ / 6+)

The Case for a Creator - Lee Strobel

A fairly in-depth look at the fingerprints of God in light of new scientific evidence (A / 9+)

Black; Red; White (The Circle Trilogy) - Ted Dekker

Modern Christian fantasy at its finest. Thomas Hunter battles the forces of evil in two worlds, discovering the battle within himself in the process. Explore paradise, sin, love, and redemption from a very unique perspective -- (A+ / 7+)

Beowulf (Audio CD--Seamus Heaney) -- Author unknown

One of the most important works in history, Beowulf is the oldest epic poem in the English language. It tells the tale of a hero who travels to a great hall in Denmark to slay two monsters spawned in Hell. For full effect, listen to Seamus Heaney read it -- (A+ / 9+)

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court - Mark Twain

Twain was well ahead of his time in writing this sarcastic (yet deadly serious) story about a man who awakens in early Medieval England. The hero brings technology to the people, and also a touch of modern horror -- (A- / 8+)

Solzhenitsyn: A Soul in Exile - Joseph Pearce

Few people in America know this man, though he played quite a large part in bringing down the Soviet Union. Persecuted, loved, and hated, he never kept silent, writing such books as One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich and The Gulag Archipelago -- (A / 11+)

The Iliad; The Odyssey - Homer

Few epics surpass Homer in scope and poetic mastery. In The Iliad, Achilles and company battle Hector and the Trojans. The Odyssey portrays Odysseus' journey to his homeland while fighting to survive against the wrathful gods and lesser men -- (A+ / 10+)

The Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoevsky

A true masterpiece that defies brief summarization...This is Dostoevsky at his finest and one of the world's greatest novels. It is on the surface a tale of a murdered father; underneath, it is a spiritual drama of the moral struggles between faith, doubt, reason, and free will -- (A+/ 11+)

Mossy Grove

2005-12-04T22:11:00.000-06:00

For some time now, I’ve had a longing within me, growing stronger as the wake of days lengthens behind me, a longing to walk in a deep forest glade. This desire does not come from some childish belief in the spirit of trees, or even from a recognition of God’s handiwork in the intricacy of one swath of the woods. Rather, it springs from the desire to experience that rest and promised peace that one feels in a mossy grove, which though fleeting, hints at the superabundant storehouse of such pleasures in the house of God.

I find myself in my mind’s eye drinking in the scene: earth and logs thick with luxurious, carpeting moss; elaborately curled ferns spreading endlessly in the stillness; lichen growing on tree trunks, close cousin to the impatient mushroom; the green-shadowed ambiance cast by leaves overhead, upheld by untiring boughs; and the smells: earthy, fresh, and…old.

It strikes me that Lewis and Tolkien, two of my favorites, had a very similar feeling—they must have—Lewis created the wood between the worlds (Digory could tell you about it); Tolkien created the forests of Middle Earth and many other similarly restful, arboreal scenes. I can see them, smell them, almost taste them. And I long for the restful bower my maker will provide, like unto Adam and his wife’s before it spit them out, forbidden. The wind and I…the wind and I…sigh.