Journals Books

Jean Rouverol recreates those traumatic years with sensitivity, care and love. With a young family she and her husband not only managed to get away from, (rather than escape), the harrassment of anti-communism in Hollywood but also managed to create a new and productive live in Mexico. Her prose is crisp and very readable.Her sense of humour never fails. Her message is clear- if you believe in it you can do it! One of the few books I have read cover to cover in one sitting.

Jean Rouverol has written here a rather readable personal history of a very public assault on civil liberties (such as they were and are in the US) during the post-WWII Red Scare.

While it does not appear to have been her intention to delve into the politics of the period except as it pertained to women in general and her family (and the expatriate community in Mexico) in particular, especially during the blacklist, the inquiring reader is left wondering, for example, what happened to Rouverol's husband, screenwriter Hugo Butler, perhaps during their Mexican exile, to lead him to celebrate the display of Italian Communist Party banners in Rome even as he wishes that Party to lose the 1960 parliamentary election in Italy -- he, like his wife, having been a member of the Communist Party USA. But then, she tied up the loose ends of her family's Mexican experience somewhat hastily, leaving one to speculate as to whether Butler's political regression was a result of his overall mental deterioration -- a condition Rouverol noted. Nevertheless, her detailed account of their life in Mexico -- the focus of the book -- makes this a worthwhile record of survival during an intensely repressive time.

I was a teenager at Hollywood High during these dark years. Struggling to understand the turmoil and politics that my family was living through. Each day I saw the pain my loving, idealistic father was enduring as more and more of his friends and coworkers became ensnared in the stupid net of fear and accusation that was spreading through his industry.

Jean's story of their quick decision to slip across the border with their children and their day to day challenges of providing a good education and rich family life as exiles makes great reading.

Rouverol's clean prose and unsparing eye will draw readers into recollections of her family's life on the run and the work they scared up to support their nearly decade-long stint underground. Poignant and unapologetic, Rouverol's memoir juxtaposes the support they found south of the border with the unrelenting weight of living as fugitives. -- Publishers Weekly

I read his book many times. He relates to people and their own experiences. His nature pieces place his reader in our home and the fields and the woods we so love!

Reading this book is like taking a walk in the woods with a dear friend. I like this guy. O'Brien combines the wonders of the natural world, philosophy and an unusual wit to serve up a healthy dose of reality in a world gone mad. It's Thoreau meets Thurber. It's a vacation for the mind. Quality time. Soul food. If you can't find a quiet place where you live-- this book will open the door to one, even if you're perched on a fire escape two stories above Fifth Ave. Thanks so much.

I've been meaning to write for a while now to say how much I'm enjoying this book. I laughed out loud at the "Soup" piece. But, mostly, it's just nice to have the company of a truly sane person in this crazy world. I love all of his meditations and I wish I had written most of them!

What a surprise this book was for me. I rarely read essays, usually preferring books that offer more color and action. Although I live in California, Upper Turkeyfoot and Jeff O'Brien kept me totally involved with his life in the mountians of Pennsylvania. Something about his writting seems to keep you totally involved. I even identified with the mice that live in his typewriter. I highly recomend this book a an absoring read and look forward to more works by this author.

Someone needed to produce a treatment of the shepherding movement that really brought it to life for those of us not old enough to have lived through it. What is unique about this treatment is that it tells the story from a positive but not defensive light. For this reason, it could be influential for those leaders who have only seen the shepherding movement as falsely criticized. We get to see how 5 well intentioned and anointed men created a system with problem that hurt people in the end. David Moore repeatedly claims objectivity, and it is clear that was his intention, but in my opinion, this book tells only half of the story--the leaders/teachers half. Moore is honest enough to admit that he was a pastor in one segment of the movement. While it does identify some problems at the end that need to be corrected, it takes the same approach that the shepherds took all throughout the controversy--that the teachings were right, but the applications were wrong. This is clearly an excuse. Jesus said, "every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit." Matthew 7:17 If the doctrines are right, then the system should produce good fruit. The many damaged lives which came out of the shepherding movement, are not addressed in this book, and a complete telling of the story would need to do this. This book should be read in conjunction with Ron and Vicki Burks "Damaged Disciples" for a more complete picture. As Moore says, some of the theology in the Burks book is probably an overreaction, but the stories there will help the reader understand the "other side" of the issue.

Now, I do not want to be understood to say that this movement did not produce any good fruit. I genuinely believe that these men uncovered new dimensions to Scriptural truths which are relevant and needed for our times, and that as they themsevles believed, a core element to creating a form of Christianity with the power to bring down secular humanism. To the degree that they were right, many were helped in the movement. However, something in the doctrines must have been wrong, or else there would not be so many tesimonies of people wounded so deeply by their many years in the movement. One example would be the doctrine of absolute submission to a discipler. Jesuit history should show the error of this idea. Giving *absolute* submission to anyone other than Christ is idolatry, and can lead to severe problems. You cannot serve two masters.

The church needs to discover how to practice church authority in a way the helps and empowers people and has safeguards against ungodly bondage to leadership, and many are currently trying to do just that--hopefully with the lessons of the past in mind. In fact, it has been rightly recognized that certain elements of the New Apostolic (NAR) movement are similar--but hopefully now with the enslaving doctrines removed.

I'm glad that Moore has written this book, and it provides a lot of needed information to place the movement in context, however I hope that those whose lives were ruined in the movement are not forgotten, and remain as a marking stone for the future path of the church.

After I wrote my original review of this book I found this summary and these quotes from some familiar and respected Christian leaders:

Summary:
==========
(from T & T Clark, back cover of book) This is an engaging history of the Shepherding Movement, an influential and controversial expression of the charismatic renewel in the 1970s and 1980s. This neopentecostal movement, led by Bible teachers Ern Baxter, Don Basham, Bob Mumford, Derek Prince, and Charles Simpson, became a house/cell church movement in the United States. The Shepherding Movement is an ecclesiological case study of an attempt at renewing church structures. Its emphasis on submission to a personal pastor, or "shepherd" as the movement termed it, brought accusations of authoritarianism. The Shepherding Movement's story provides a unique perspective on the history of the charismatic renewal in the United States and its struggle to handle a controversy that forever changed the Renewal's ecumenical character.

About the author: S. David Moore is Associate Professor at the Life Pacific College in San Dimas, California.

"The Shepherding Movement" Book Reviews

"The major authentic and scholarly study of the Discipleship/Shepherding movememt...Moore has given us a well-written book that is a significant contribution to our understanding of the period."
-Vinson Synan, Dean of the School of Divinity at Regent University

"David Moore offers a scholarly, yet warmly pastoral look at more than a piece of history, for he also gives us an insightful, prophetic resource for study and growth."
-Dr. Jack Hayford, Founding Pastor of the Church on the Way in Van Nuys, CA and Chancellor of the Kings College and Seminary

"This is a cerful, objective account of a highly charged issue...an authentic insight of great importance. S. David Moore has performed a valuable service also for the Roman Catholic Charismatic Renewal, where similar issues arose."
-Kilian McDonnell, President, Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research, Collegeville, MN

I am literally a child of the Shepherding Movement, with my family joining while I was quite young. On balance, my experience was very positive, yet I know of others who believe their experiences were different. So when Professor Moore's book came out, I was interested to see how the overall, wider movement was evaluated.

Professor Moore promises a fair and balanced look at this controversial movement. In my opinion, he delivers. He concisely lays out the history of the movement from beginning to end. Writing with a historian's eye, Moore places the rise of the Shepherding Movement in its context. The Charismatic Renewal was sweeping the nation, but many of its leaders and participants were unaccountable, unattached, and simply drifting from one meeting to the next. To foster accountability and maturity, leaders like Bob Mumford and Charles Simpson began teaching about spiritual authority and covenantal relationships. Eventually, five leaders came together to emphasize these and other teachings (the so-called "Ft. Lauderdale Five"). Moore leaves no doubt that the Shepherding Movement arose in response to a real need and with the best of intentions.

Unfortunately, many of the critics also thought they were acting with the best of intentions, though a few - such as Pat Robertson - come across as self-appointed judges who felt little need to actually engage the leaders of the Shepherding movement with their concerns. Others come across concerned about losing their own turf or financial contributions to the Shepherding Movement. Jack Hayford comes across as someone concerned, but believing the best about those with whom he disagreed and attempting to engage them in direct dialogue. Indeed, it is to Moore's credit that both Charles Simpson and Jack Hayford endorse his book.

I was impressed with the openness of leaders like Simpson and Mumford, who not only granted Moore several interviews but also turned over their private correspondence to him - a treasure of primary data that any historian would love to have. Moore puts it to good use, following the movement from its inception to the dissolving of the "Ft. Laurderdale Five," then tracking the individual men in their ministries after the fact. Moore also reminds us of the benefits this movement had on the broader Christian Renewal: Hosanna/Integrity Music; the emphasis on Covenant in understanding God; the idea of spiritual mentoring; and, the emphasis on home groups and cell groups.

I have always considered myself fortunate to have been involved in the Charles Simpson sphere of the Shepherding Movement. After reading this fine book, that belief is reinforced. Professor Moore deserves much credit for this concise and fair history of an influential movement within the Charismatic Renewal.

This book offers a well researched (David Moore personally interviewed all of the living principle players and many of the secondary players) snapshot of how "the doctrine of the Nicolaitans" challenged, leavened, edified, and damaged large segments of the Charismatic Movement of the 1970's and 1980's. Good, bad, ugly, and everything in between - it's all here! In addition to reading this book I have purchased and listened to the audio tape edition (available directly from David Moore or from Charles Simpson Ministries at http://www.csmpublishing.org). I found the content and the author's findings in the audio edition of this book to be the perfect companion to this edition - which is scholarly, objective, balanced, and fair.

On a personal note, I entered the Shepherding/Discipleship movement in as a result of the 1977 San Francisco Men's Seminar. In fact, I discovered in this book that the seminar that I attended was the last of it's kind. (It is amusing to consider that these "gender specific" seminars were controversial at the time since they are now common place. This books helps one gain insight into how the Shepherding Movement broke ground in areas like this)

Was I hurt during the Shepherding/Discipleship movement? Sure, just about everyone involved in the Shepherding Movement was to some degree - especially the leaders. I left the movement angry, bitter, and muttering, "Never again!" However, by doing personal research, reading, prayer, and a few "Matthew 18's" I consider myself healed, sealed and congealed. And, friends, there was a lot to be healed from due to the imbalances and errors of this movement! Candidly, there were personalities back then that are still alive and, in my opinion, that one would be wise to be avoid. Why? Some have learned and moved beyond the lessons from Discipleship and some have not.

That is why this book is SO important. It is primarily a work of scholastic history. As the cliche' goes, "Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it." And, yes folks there are churches repeating the errors of this movement even as you are reading this review - I can guarantee it!

I say this from personal experience. You see, after I exited the Shepherding Movement (around 1990 or so) I noticed that several of the churches that we went to were practicing Discipleship - one even taught it from the pulpit - but all were in denial.

One church leadership group, in particular, was brutally traumatized when I brought this fact to their attention. I was rebuked for even suggested that they were "like them!" This told me that the errors of Discipleship weren't exclusive to, "the big four or five" or even a particular movement at a particular moment in time but were simply a formalized, doctrinized form of widespread pastoral, pastoral staff, and cult-like control issues. These errors and imbalances are common to the Church universal past, present and (probably) future. Jesus referred to it as "the doctrine of the Nicolaitans" (Revelation 2:6) the word "Nicolaitan" transliterated, I was told by David Rose (who is not mentioned in the book because he was one of Derek Prince's men - the book focuses mainly on the Mumford and Simpson "branches"), to mean "one who gains victory over the people". I think that you will find this "doctrine of the Nicolaitans" in whole or in part just about everywhere there are churches filled with those sinful creatures called, "the sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve" (to borrow from C.S. Lewis). If you are one such creature, you will learn much about yourself (and maybe your church) from this book.

There is also much positive to learn from the Shepherding Movement. Integrity Music was a direct by-product of the Shepherding Movement (our worship back then was legendary). Some base concepts and doctrines of Promise Keepers and the men's movement of the early 1990's were directly or indirectly influenced by the Shepherding Movement as well - whether they will admit it or not is another thing!

Yes, we made a lot of mistakes but we got a lot right as well. To this day I believe that our ecclesiology was dead right but our application of those truths was dead wrong! Hey man, if you can get a bunch ex-hippies interested in Theology and historic, credal, normative Christianity THAT alone must be divine, can you dig it?

At the end of it all I think that we all came to realize what depraved sinners we really are. I know what I am capable of without God and daily reliance on the Holy Spirit - and it's NOT pretty!

So in the end, perhaps the BEST by-product of the Shepherding Movement was humility based on heightened self-awareness of our frailties and flaws. After THAT epiphany there ain't much to be arrogant about! As Bob Mumford said, "I walked in a way that is embarrassing to me now!" In my case I can only say, "Ditto!"

Just to show you that one CAN come home again, I have returned to one of the "remnant churches" (as the author calls them) and I am very, very, very happy and content with where our local church is and where I am at. As they say, "Always learn from experience - preferably someone else's!"

Wonderful story. Makes me sad I did not get to know Wendy while she was alive.

Wendy Wasserstein has won Pulitzer prizes and it shows in this book! Of course it's "just chick lit" but still very well written, well thought out chick lit that's a cut above the rest in my opinion. It's not as good as the Sex and the City series - on tv, that is - but heading in that direction!

Wendy Wasserstein, the acerbic, often-hilarious Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright, brings her trademark dry humor to this sweet collection of essays. Ms. Wasserstein writes what she knows about-theatre, New York City, looking for love, trying to lose weight, friends, and making the decision to have her first child at the age of 48.

Many of these essays are magical, but could be an acquired taste. For those of you who love biting autobiographical satire can look no further.

Wendy Wasserstein's untimely death in the winter of 2006, at the young age of 55, robs us of what should have been decades more of her witty, generous-spirited but sharp, wise feminst humor. These essays are a delight, giving us much over which to ponder and chuckle, even in our sadness, knowing as we do that the mind and spirit creating them have left us. Read them to savor baby boom feminism in mid-life, and to honor the memory of a great woman of letters.

Shostakovich Reconsidered is a timely publication that puts into perspective all the issues revolving around the defamation of the composer's memoirs (Testimony, edited by Solomon Volkov).

Whichever side of the fence one is on, the book comprehensively gathers all the witnesses and testimonies so that one can understand the entire issue surrounding the controversy. At the same time, the second half of the book presents various interesting essays on the composer and his music and other fascinating materials such as the symposium by Maxim SHostakovich.

On the whole, it is very illuminating. On the subject of Testimony, it could very well be the last word on the subject.

A thoroughly researched and well written investigation of the composer-as-dissident. For contemporaries and friends of Shostakovich as well as careful listeners, the composer's dissidence is plainly evident in his music.

One wonders what the counter-revisionist musicologists will make of Shostakovich Reconsidered. Under the weight of Ho's and Feofanov's evidence there is little choice but to remain silent or to torpidly dismiss the book.

According to Terry Teachout in the October, 1999 issue of Commentary, that is precisely what Professor Fay has done in her upcoming biography of Shostakovich.

Certainly (one hopes) not the last word on Shostakovich, but a must buy for all lovers of the great composer.

I bought this book a while back, and kept it for almost a year before I read it. I wanted to give the book my highest level of attention. Well, it was worth the wait. Shostakovich Reconsidered has a wealth of information for any serious (and not-so-serious) Shostakovich scholar. My only criticism of the book is that Ian MacDonald's (The New Shostakovich) name should be more associated with this book than it is. He has written a sizeable array of articles in this book, and each one has proven to be as interesting as The New Shostakovich. I found the "courtroom" approach to supporting or refuting the memoirs of Shostakovich (Testimony) a little tedious after awhile, but I enjoyed the information nevertheless. I also found that Laurel Fay's book (Shostakovich: A Life) suffers from "selective scholarship" in the eyes of the authors. This should be interesting, as I dive into that book next. . .

I bought this book a while back, and kept it for almost a year before I read it. I wanted to give the book my highest level of attention. Well, it was worth the wait. Shostakovich Reconsidered has a wealth of information for any serious (and not-so-serious) Shostakovich scholar. My only criticism of the book is that Ian MacDonald's (The New Shostakovich) name should be more associated with this book than it is. He has written a sizeable array of articles in this book, and each one has proven to be as interesting as The New Shostakovich. I found the "courtroom" approach to supporting or refuting the memoirs of Shostakovich (Testimony) a little tedious after awhile, but I enjoyed the information nevertheless. I also found that Laurel Fay's book (Shostakovich: A Life) suffers from "selective scholarship" in the eyes of the authors. This should be interesting, as I dive into that book next. . .

I have several of the SimplyShe products, and I believe all women should have at least one. The journal is salted with small uplifting witty remarks (e.g. "You are hipper than you think".) No matter your age or relationship status this is a good journal. It's easy to write in and can even fit in your purse. Perfect for grrl power.

This girly journal is perfect. Of course, it is a journal, but it's like a little mini-support group for the journal's writer. It's colorful and cute, which makes it a joy to write in. But then each page has little captions (that speak only to women) like "I'm bloated. How bout you." or "You're so hot. There, now do you feel better." and (my personal favorite) "You're not alone. I don't like your boyfriend, either."
The purpose of most journals is to allow the writer to vent... about whatever. And believe it or not, this journal makes you feel comfortable about complaining about everything... even issues you feel absolutely alone on. And more importantly, it makes you laugh at times when you really need it.

This journal gives the small insights we gain from life and relationships in a humorous way through short quips amongst the journal's pages. Its very funny, and a great space to truly express your inner thoughts. All the pages are colorful and uniquely designed. I love it!

This journal is great. I have tried and tried to keep a journal, but I can never keep one going, you know I'll do it for a few weeks or months, then I get tired of it and stop...It always seems to get boring or somehthing. Well, this journal has been completely different. I hav been doing it for quite a while, and not gotten bored. It keeps you interested with little words on each page, like little insights and stuff, I love the way it's bound like a book on the side and not like a spiral notebook, and it's very girly with its pretty pink...the outside look is very attractive and cute and really caught my eye, I actually bought mine at Border's bookstore, and I was looking at the journals I saw this one, flipped through andd went straight over to buy it. Simplyshe did a great job with this one. This cute little book even fits in my purse! I love it, and it really was a great purchase for me. Studies even show that keeping a diary or journal can increase your social life, and keep you from being depressed. This is a great journal and I highly recommend it.

I bought this for my daughter's birthday and she was quite pleased with it. It's a very high quality sketch book for a very nice price. Will definitely purchase another

I got this to use as a casual scrapbook for magazine clippings, and I LOVE it. It is also a very nice sketchbook, but works well for my purposes.

I bought these for my daughter who is really into drawing right now. Her papers were everywhere so I bought her some of these books. They are great quality, lots of pages and not that exspensive. I would also like her to be able to hang on to her drawings and watch her progress instead of having bits of papers here and there.

...over the past three decades I have traveled to some of the cities listed in the book. I found it great reference reading, and a lot of fun, as I passed through the region. Well worth the price and adding to your North African library. BTW - at least one of the grandchildren of an important Moroccan named in the book was to be found in a Smara house referenced. He'll spin a great yarn, to two, over some mint tea that will add to your understanding of the book.

Enjoy!

The experiences described by Vieuchange are somehow so tangible, that they become like one's own memories or dreams. It could be viewed as a futile, insignificant story, however, there is something in the way Vieuchange throws himself into oblivion for a dream that sleeps in a corner of all of us.

Stumbled onto this small work on a back shelf and bought it for a quick read 15 years ago. I have never stopped thinking about it. It is the personal journal of a young romantic on a personal quest seeking a rumored city lost in the desert of Morocco. The danger, pain and ultimate loss of his life to illness far from home is punctuated by his momentary view of the ruins, which to the true romantic, overshadowed all else. You can put yourself in his place on every page and feel his pain and exhiliration. The book is testimony to his brother who followed his trail to find the truth after his failure to return, and found the journal with the nuns who nursed him till his death. It is truly a gem in the travel book genre.

An amazingly real account from the journals. Steeped in the romantic tradition of solo travel, the account begins in hope and ends in the still silence of illness where no words can be written, though the flicker of hope undoubtedly held on in this man's breast till the end. It is as honest and immediate account of a personal adventure of great risk and pain as can be found in the twentieth century. All travelers should read and admire.... though none should follow.

The Smythe Sewn Faux Old Leather Wraps,Foiled, Unlined Journal was even better than I expected it to be, and it was very reasonably priced. I collect journals, because I am fairly obsessive about journaling, and I go through a journal usually every 4 to 6 weeks. I have spent more on journals that were not anywhere near this quality.

I woud recommend Journals from the Paperblanks Book Company to anyone who likes to journal. The really funny thing that that happened was that my fiance bought me two journals, from the Paperblanks company as well, and their quality is just as good. These journals are well worth their cost. They make you feel like writing important thoughts, quoting important writers, being philosophical.

If you love to journal as I do, do yourself a favor and buy one from the Paperblanks Book Company.

I love this journal first because of the high quality - it's outstanding. Second, this is a great size to put in a purse or small bag if you're writing outdoors. All of my books are written first in longhand and when I can, this is the line of journals that are my favorite.

This particular journal is unlined, has a great hard cover, a close clasp that clicks in place to keep the pages protected, along with a red ribbon book mark sewn in. The paper is superior quality, thick in a nice cream color. What's so great about the paper is that you can write on both sides of the sheet and not see the writing on the reverse side of the paper.

Keep in mind this is a smaller size journal. If you want a larger one, get it from this company here on Amazon. They have the best prices for these journals and the look of the journals is estate-like beautiful!

the book is well made, and is great as a journal or book to write thoughts in or something to that effect. the pages are of top quality, thick enough to not see pen through but thin enough so that it seems that quite a few pages fit for the size of book.

Purchased this to use as gift for wedding guests at a destination wedding in Europe. It looked beautiful online but is even better in person - excellent quality and feel and magnetic close is very nice touch! Highly recommend.

This is a great book for any kid who likes soccer. I think every team should have at least one and probably more so they could use the awesome tattoos. I like all the information and the places to write everything. Be sure to give it to someone as a present for the holidays.

This book is soooooo cool!!! My whole team wore the tatoos at a tournement a month ago and we totally rocked. Plus I've learned some cool tricks from the book.

I gave a copy of this book to my 9 year-old niece, and she loves it. Several other girls on her soccer team have picked up the book, too, and now they all sit together after games, filling up the pages. Finding gifts for kids can be hard...but this book will make it easier!

I got it for my daughter(13) and my son (11) stole all his temporary tattoos, so I had to get him one too. I bought the book because I thought she'd like the bright design and the goodies, but I was really glad to seem them sitting together, filling in the blank sections and comparing notes. Any chance to get them reading and writing...