Church Books

Fr. John Behr does more in this work than simply lay out an excellent treatise on Patristic theology, he puts forward a persuasive case for an entirely different, and in some respects more enriching and complex vision for how Christians should go about understanding the nature of their faith.

Many who are tired of the Bible wars will find Behr's take refreshing. It makes the Bible, and particularly the Old Testament, accessible by showing the reader how the early Christians opened the books for their meaning rather than approaching them as a semi-historical set of cryptic passage from which people were meant to derive some sort of doctrinal formula.

The book would be worth reading if only as a pristine example of how to synthesize an amazing breadth of information into an easily readable and not overly complex (given the topic being addressed) form. Behr is showing a way forward for theology in general, even comparative theology by condensing a multitidue of information around a single axiom, and what's most amazing is that his very simple thesis holds up! The reader begins to see the thesis of the crucified messiah and the corresponding opening of Scripture to speak of this messiah in the Scriptures itself and in the early Fathers.

In short Behr has brought some modicum of order to the chaos of modern theology.

Reverend John Behr (Professor of Patristics, St. Vladimir's Seminary) presents The Mystery of Christ: Life in Death, a scholarly approach to Christian theology, penned in a systematic manner that answers quandaries that have arisen in theological and scriptural studies in recent centuries. Beginning with the Passion narratives, The Mystery of Christ discusses how holy scripture itself can be searched to find Christ, how Christ is born within those souls who are born again in the Church, and how His word becomes his new incarnation through the words and actions of those who glorify God. An inset selection of color plates illustrates this rich theological examination, open to Christians of all backgrounds despite its scholarly format.

A powerful journey through the core Christian teachings as revealed by the early fathers of the church. I enjoyed Behr's interaction with a pre-modern understanding of Christianity in light of modern and post-modern scholarship. The book is concise, with thought provoking ideas and quotations on almost every page.

Behr begins with a quote from Kierkegaard: "We only understood life backwards, but we must live forwards." This he takes as the starting point for his discussion on what "doing theology" in the manner of the Apostles and Fathers is exactly about, which, he argues, is often misunderstood or rejected today. He writes "Most modern expositions of theology exemplify Kierkegaard's observation that we understand backwards, yet fail to take adequate account of this fact. That is, they begin with the results of the theological debates of the early centuries, especially Trinitarian theology and Christology, but separate these theological formulas from the way in which they were in fact learned and from the exegetical practice, the manner of using scripture, in and through which they were articulated."

So by starting with the wrong premises of a fixed Scriptural canon or defined dogma we are drawn away from the true hermeneutical lens of the crucified Christ and replace him with our own ideas of him, usually the result of post-Reformation debates about authority or post-modern debates about "the real meaning of the text."

Such historicism, secular or Christian, either presupposes what it is trying to debate and understand, thus missing the Christological nature of scriptural interpretation inherent to the Apostles and Fathers, or it rejects the search as too far removed from the sources to allow for any encounter with truth (which can be argued away through various deconstructions concerning socially constructed meaning and linguistic contortions). Or, to return to my museum experience, it is assuming that the image on the tapestry, if it is to even be trusted as a representation of something true, is obvious and always known, not understanding the process of working from the back to the front, even though the Apostles and Fathers had only known the gnarled threads until the crucified Lord opened the scriptures to them in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24). So for the Apostles and Fathers, only God can reveal His ways to mankind and it is in the context of the broken bread, the Eucharist, that we encounter Christ, which rightly proclaims His death until He comes again (1 Corinthians 11:26). As Behr observes, "It is these two complimentary ways, the engagement with the scriptures and the sharing in the Lord's meal...that Paul specifies that he had received...and then handed down to later generations."

Our scientific and historic methodologies, useful as they are, must not be used as first principles in our encounter and understanding of God, even if we are the recipients or byproducts of a tradition that encountered God crucified in the flesh. Only by seeing the crucified Lord as the starting point for understanding salvation's meaning could the Apostles and Fathers retrospectively grasp the meaning of the Jewish scriptures. Christ is read into the Old Testament; or, rather, the Old Testament is read out of Christ. Christ's revealed meaning of His death is the rainfall that brings the scriptures to bear fruit. And without His Spirit, the veil will remain over our eyes when we read Moses and the Prophets, as it does for those who put their preconception of God before the revealed nature of his death and resurrection, serving as "a stumbling block for some and foolishness for others," as it does most strongly for Muslims who claim that God would never be caught dead in a body, ironically limiting God to transcendence.

From this hermeneutical lens of Christ, Behr draws out the implications of such an approach as found in the Fathers and Apostles. First, Christ's death is already a victory, not the unfortunate event that had to happen in order to get to the resurrection, and much less the necessary Anslemian price to pay in order to satisfy the wrath of the angry Father. "The empty tomb is the confirmation of the victory wrought upon the cross. Christ's exaltation, the lifting up spoken of by Isaiah, is precisely his exaltation on the Cross..." As the Orthodox sing each Pascha, "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death." And it is in the context of his victorious suffering that he is revealed as I AM, the Christ of God that mere flesh and blood cannot reveal to us (John 8:28).

Secondly, Behr extends the centrality of the crucifixion of God to the very premise of creation, which leads into an insightful discussion about the nature of sin, death, free will and grace. He argues convincingly from the scripture and Fathers that the incarnation and crucifixion were the original intent of God when He created us. Christ is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, the revelation of God and the purpose of our creation. Thus the cross is the axis mundi, around which the world turns and history unfolds. Again, God's incarnate suffering is the main point and "for this we were created." Therefore the Fall is part of the economy of history, and history is a part of the economy of salvation. Again, the Fall is not the mistake that made it necessary for God to take upon himself our wounded nature, as if it were a backup plan that God came up with after He recovered from the initial shock of Adam and Eve's fruit debacle. It is the felix culpa.

This is a point worth lingering on a bit more since it gives us an insight into the Apostle's way of "doing theology" often so foreign to our own. Karl Barth once remarked that Calvin's main problem was in the fact that in the end he separated Jesus Christ from God. I didn't fully understand this until I thought about it in conjunction with Behr. This is something that I tend to do when I assume that the crucifixion didn't have to happen. It is looking at history in a manner foreign to the Apostles and Fathers. To quote Behr:

"But to do this [separating God from Christ] would be to envision creation without Christ, a creation in which, had human beings not sinned, there would have been no need for Christ. In short it would posit a hypothesis or first principle other than Christ himself, who, as the crucified and exalted Lord, opens the scriptures so that we can see the whole of creation and its history in his light. On this basis, the apostle Paul can view the sinfulness of human beings- and even the very creation of Adam, "as a type of the one to come," and the light which shone in darkness- within the overall plan of God which culminates in the Passion of his Son. "For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth...the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus, our Lord" (Eph 1:3-11)."

Thus the Apostles worked backwards to understand the Old Testament, their only scriptures, and the very foundation and purpose of the world in the light of Christ crucified and exalted. "`Salvation history' is written from the perspective of the cross [unlike historical narratives about how it `really happened'], with its totality- creation, human sinfulness, the giving of the law, the preparation, and the work of salvation- simultaneously revealed in and through the proclamation of the crucified and risen Christ, the eternal plan of God."

A third point Behr emphasizes is the role of the Church as our Virgin Mother, with the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos, as the symbol of this bringing forth of God into the world while still betrothed, again working backwards form the crucifixion, or from the "tomb to the womb." While defining ecclesiology as such was not of primary concern to the Apostles or earliest Fathers (not until St Cyprian perhaps), the lived reality of the Church as their Mother was continually observed. Through our baptism and regular participation in the Eucharist, they posit, the Church gives us birth and nourishes our new life in Christ crucified and exalted, as we are united to his death in the hope of the glory to come, provided we suffer with him (to paraphrase St Paul). By giving full ontological meaning to the Church as the very body of Christ, moving it beyond a vague feeling in my heart regarding an invisible connection with other Christians, Paul and our fathers in the faith challenge us to be united in faith and love, sharing one Eucharist and one baptism.

For myself, the dominical prayer that all be one is imperative and central, since the unity of the Church is that of one bride (Christ is no polygamist after all), and Behr challenges me to rethink the "least common denominator" approach to the question of "What is Church?" If all of creation takes place for the sake of knowing and experiencing Christ crucified and exalted, and if the Apostles and Fathers have handed down by their blood this proper understanding, then perhaps I can give them more credit than I often do in relation to the question of sacraments, episcopacy and liturgy. Certainly the denominations can do a better job at manifesting this oneness of the Bride based upon a closer understanding and incorporation of the Patristic liturgical mind.

Lastly, Behr takes up the command to glorify God in our bodies. In a way it is the answer to the question "So what?" after reading the previous chapters. Just as Christ crucified is the center of life's meaning and the revelation of God's character, so our own participation in this death and life must be based upon our own small deaths and bearing of the cross. This section includes an extensive discussion on the nature of the passions, sin, death, grace, will and the resurrection-all of which are questions that engage in the importance of the material body as equally spiritual and essential to our humanity, as it is to Christ's. The struggle to manifest the victory over sin and death, by the grace of God, comes down to our own cross bearing with the promise of glory and rest for those who finish the race.

In conjunction with this book, I would heartily recommend reading Marianne Thompson's The God of the Gospel of John, Martin Hengel's The Cross of the Son of God, Oskar Skarsaune's Incarnation: Myth or Fact?, as well as the works of St. Irenaeus, the latter being extensively discussed by Fr. Behr's work.

Accessible presentation of the theology of the incarnation. Dr. Behr presents some heavy duty patristics - building mainly on Athanasius - in an engaging and spirtually enriching manner. The formulary for his study is through the perspective of how the disciples experienced the ministry, resurrection, and their post resurrection experiences/understanding of Christ. Would like to see Dr. Behr continue more writing of this type for the general (non-seminary) reader.

This book is interesting, but it is very dry. It was originally published in the 1920's, and that does show. There are untranslated quotations of Latin and Greek that the author uses to illustrate his points. This is great if you can read Latin and Greek, but if not then you should order a dictionary as well...

What will be found in the Anglican scholar Samuel Angus,' "The Mystery-Religions," is an informative overview of the principle cults which dominated the Mediterranean world from Alexander's conquests up to the early centuries of the Christian era. The crux of this work lies in Angus' erudite analysis of the various factors which facilitated the spread and subsequent decline of the Mystery-Religions, and likewise the factors that ultimately aided the spread and triumph of Christianity. He is clear in his presentation of key points and sincere with the information he provides. Angus' deep familiarity with both the ancient texts and the current modern scholarship of his times, on the whole, presents a well-researched work valuable for students and scholars alike. This work is an enduring masterpiece, which offers readers a complete and useful tool for understanding the multifaceted belief systems of the Mystery-Religions.

Anyone curious for a well written collegiate level review of the Ancient Mysteries and the similarities found in Christianity will find this work complete.

I don't believe a better work on this topic has been written.

For the esoterically minded, Hermeticist, Freemason, Rosicrucian, look no further.

As someone with no background in this type of material, I was curious surrounding some of hype of the "Da Vinci code" so I picked up this tome. After a difficult start due to my lack of knowledge in this field of studies. I read slowly then avidly and gained so much from this very learned man. It is a balanced book it that does not have any agenda only that it speaks the truth. Now as for the level of writing these types of books do go beyond the college-lite education that is so common today. The style is lucid and clear and with an excellent usage of vocabulary.

The true origins of Christianity are explored in depth and dogma is set aside in favor of esoteric philosophy. A wonderful wonderful book.

If one has the courage to read while allowing the spirit of God to "plant" in your spirit you will say many "aha's", you will be saddened re:the evolution of what was begun so gloriously,relationally and with great commitment to a form and fashion that has produced nothing and yet by seeing in black and white, will be encouraged to realize it does not have to be this way. God-help us to be "quite simply" just what you've modeled for us to be. Nothing more-nothing less!

I've been a Christian for almost 7 years. Like all people trying to be good Christians I've attended the services, prayer meetings, Wednesday nights, etc. I've wondered why I can't get excited about what's going on at church. I've wondered why I struggle to find God in the midst of all the to-do lists, nursery service, usher duty and fill-in-the-blank Bible studies. I have finally quit going to a lot of it because it left me feeling so empty. I've wondered why there aren't more people around to actually disciple the new believers???

I've felt guilty and like a bad Christian for so long, having been told that my lack of participation and my self-centeredness is why I feel empty and depressed. I finally decided to stop just accepting that answer and go searching for the truth. Here, God has handed me a significant piece of it. If this describes you, know that it's not all your fault, maybe most of it ISN'T your fault. Read this book!!

I don't want to be long winded so I will sum up this review by saying this a significant book for any stage of your walk. It is not just an "anti" book railing against what exists. It asks the important questions about our general disatisfaction and then moves you into extremely practical steps towards increasing your intimacy with the Lord. It does do a great job of forcing us to look at things as they truly are, the use of the Emperor's New Clothes analogy is powerful and extremely pertinent. If you are considering it, get this book and read it.

Pastor Jacobsen writes openly and honestly about the problems confronting todays church and Christianity in general. It is written from the perspective of a man who is earnestly seeking the face of God and His will with none of the frills and trimmings of modern Christianity.A very "Back to the Basics" book. Next to my Bible, this is my most valued book in my library. I keep having to buy new copies as I loan them out to pastors and never see them again!!! I recommend VERY highly!

I couldn't put it down. In fact, I've read it twice more since. It seemed I had found someone else that verbalized the sentiments I had, relative to my overall "church" experience. Wayne does an excellent job of not only putting this in writing, but motivates and provokes the reader to move toward the intimate relationship with God for which we all really do look. Should be required reading for every Believer! Pass it on.

The Urantia book was written decades after Mr. Padgett's death! I wish people would give an honest review based upon READING the book rather than the Amazon review. The revelations are life changing, and that I can attest to having read the messages and practiced the prayer. Don't miss out on this wonderful info guaranteed to change your life and answer many questions about biblical contradictions that may have been troubling to consider. One of my favorite books to date in Spirituality...

The book is good. The message is good. But in any case it's evident that the author took all the information from the URANTIA Book. That is his "Celestial" source ;-)

Some say you can never learn from books but that you have to experience truth on your own terms. This seems like a true statement and more the reason to be openminded in world where bad news is as common as falling leaves.

These books have opened new doors that I would have never dreamed of, give them full read you may be pleasantly surprised.

Jung

As truly wonderful and varied all the Celestial messages delivered by Jesus and his fellow Celestial brethren are in this presentation, the most often repeated and emphasized message given in a variety of different ways is the declared supreme importance of obtaining God's Divine Love through prayer. It is declared that cumulative obtention of this Love through repeated prayer is what transforms a human soul into a divine soul filled with the immortal Substance of God's Very Own Soul; and this is what true salvation is all about: at-onement of soul with our Creator that brings fulfillment and happiness beyond human conception.

But the angels explain that there is a great additional blessing inherent in this Love. They emphasize that the true seat of Truth, as with love, both God's and humankind's, is not located in the evanescent and fallible reasoning mind, but in the timeless and unfailing soul. And since the Source of all Truth is God Himself, in order for humankind to share in this, His Truths, if they are to be received at all, must be transmitted from His Soul to our souls. God's Truths are inherent in His Divine Essence, the Life of which is His Divine Love. Therefore, where humankind is concerned, Truth need not be a mere transitory and essentially lifeless and often changing concept of the mind, but, potentially, an eternal Living Force of the soul.

And how do we obtain these highest of God's Living spiritual Truths? We are instructed in but only one way: through repeated prayer for this Love. The more Divine Love that enters and permeates our souls, the greater becomes our understanding and possession of those spiritual Truths inherent in this Love. In this way, the understanding that may begin as a mental knowledge deepens through our souls' growing perceptions and culminates not in an evanescent but rather in an eternal ownership. And, thus, the highest Truths of God may become progressively known and possessed by each soul that seeks at-onement with our Heavenly Father through prayer for the Gift of His Divine Love.

It has been my supreme privilege to have contributed to the present format and edition of these magnificent revelations from the spirit world, authored principally by our brother, Jesus, but also in collaboration with other Celestial spirits who have also found the Way, the Truth and the Love of God. And I would urge all potential readers to enjoy and absorb this book's contents, for within I sincerely believe is the revealed true Way to each soul's possession of the highest fulfillment and greatest happiness attainable in both this world and the next.

I LOVE THIS BOOK ... because it conveys many interesting truths about the earth life of Jesus of Nazareth, it corrects mistakes of the present bible and also informs the reader of Jesus` actual mission - to let us know about our Heavenly Father`s never failing and always uplifting Love for his children, HIS DIVINE LOVE.

I LOVE THIS BOOK ... because it contains many interesting messages, received through automatic writing and signed by the highest of celestial angels including the apostles John and Paul and Luke as well as many others, above all, of course, messages signed by Jesus himself.

I LOVE THIS BOOK ... because, besides telling me alot about Jesus and God`s Love for us, it also includes messages dealing with the questions of how we - as simple human beings - can finally become angels, what`s the use of personal soulful prayer and how spiritual healing works.

I can only recommend this book.

I definitely recommend this book to worship leaders and pastors. It's a smooth read, interesting, and very useful. It's not very expensive and the author himself is very qualified and has a great humble heart. I think this book could help a lot of churches with some problems they face weekly between worship leaders, pastors, and their congregations. Read it.

This book is a real treasure trove of information. Great insight on many different styles of worship without any favoritism towards any one style. I recommend this book to anyone whose plans, or assists in planning worship.

This is the author, Barry Liesch, writing. Just a note on the changes in the expanded edition. Chapters 1, 2, 6, 10, and 11 are new or virtually new. All the other chapters (16 in all) are enhanced too. This version is much stronger, both theologically and practically.

It has a greater appeal to college-age worship leaders. It's more incisive. It also links up with the web site I've partnered, offering many supplemental materials with ongoing updates--see worshipinfo.com. Baker Books has done an exemplary job with the layout--lots of diagrams, tables, illustrative drawings for the eye. In short, I'm pleased with the result and hope you will be too.

This book is timely. Carifying of my own opinions and experience while offering new insights and practical application. Obviously established on experience and observation as well as Biblical principles (I also read the author's other book, People in the Presence of God, for more theological background). An insightful resource, easy to read and understand.

Barry has now written 2 good books on worship. The heart he has for worship, and his attempt not to alienate anyone truly seeking God are outstanding. It is a shame he has to bend over backwards to keep some from getting upset, but he is willing to do it for God's sake and he is good at it.

There are many practical helps here as well as a good basis for trying new forms and methods. I find his style honest and inviting. I can also personally testify to many of the recommendations given on contemporary, flowing worship styles.

Get this book and have fun exploring God's greatness is worship!

Nine Keys is a very practical step-by-step process in how to implement successful, healthy small groups into the local church.

I am a small-groups person. I have been in one small group or another, often as a leader, almost continually, for the past 30 years. I believe small groups are just about the most important aspect of a church's life.

I have read many books on this, gone to many seminars. There is a lot of good material on this topic.

But in my present role as a church consultant, this is the book on small groups that I hand to pastors who are wanting to know how to grow a small group ministry or how to better equip their small group leaders.

Why? As George explains in this book, most church small groups do a good job of promoting nurture and fellowship, but most stop there. George believes an effective small group should perform three basic functions, not just nurture. In addition to nurture, he believes small groups should be effectively engaged in small-group-based evangelism (George says that in any given year, only one small group in four does any evangelism), and he thinks that small groups should constantly be training small group leaders through apprenticeship. I agree that a small group needs all three functions. And so I use this book as the entry point for someone who is new to these ideas about small group life.

After this introduction, I point churches to further training or more in-depth printed materials about various aspects of this approach to small groups, but in my opinion, there's not a better starting point than this one.

We have used this tool since it came out. I've found that this tool is best for easily organizing the 'how to' stuff of small group leadership. It does not cover the ministerial philosophy issues. A good book for that is 'Master Plan of Evangelism' by Robert Coleman.

As the title for this book says, it covers nine keys for effective small group leadership. Each key really has four or five sub points...so in reality it is nine times about five...or forty five keys if you will. But George has organized them into nine groups...or keys.

We've found that leaders who study this material are easier to work with and easier to build a vision with for a local church ministry. There are a lot of books on Small Group Leadership that will help you. This one is very practical. It's so well written you can use it even if all you do is read the paragraph headers. Everything is well explained and easy to find or follow.

So even for leaders who don't like to read or who you suspect will not read everything you ask them to read, this book still might get through to them. I recommend it as a curriculum text for a course in a local church/ministry for leading small groups.

Enjoy it!

The best two things about this book are: 1) it helps the small group leader coordinate with the pastor, and 2) it includes shepherding, building community, discipleship and evangelism as part of the small group experience. It is the best balanced book available today!

Carl George effectively communicates the essential basics. This book does a good job of highlighting the difference between being a facilitator of small group time and being a leader (someone who is a disciple-maker). I have used this book as the main text for training small group leaders. It provides great material for interactive discussion and presenting a wholistic picture of all that small groups can be.

This book was a very satisfying and rewarding experience for me. I would put this on my "must read" list if you have not done so.

This book is an incredible journey about the Episcopal Church and the history of our country through the eyes of a truly great disciple, Bishop Noble Powell.

Hein portrays the life of this Bishop in a wonderfully depicted, and accurate manner. He also reveals the discipleship of Powell and the incredible journeys it takes him on. This book is about "love in action". Bishop Powell takes on the "Great Commission" with great pride and passion his entire life. I loved this book and hope you are fortunate to glimpse into the life of Noble Powell, by David Hein.

I loved this book!! To me, someone not raised in the Episcopal church, this book told me so much not only about the twentieth-century history of this important mainline denomination but also about its ethos -- its distinctive approach to spirituality, which combines the mind and the conscience, not just the feelings. Episcopalianism focuses not simply on an emotional conversion experience but, as we see in Powell's life, a rhythm of prayer and praise, repentance and amendment of life, through the liturgical year and the sacraments. This biography is informative on such matters, and yet, what made it a delight to read was feeling the personality of Noble Powell as a constant, comforting presence on every page. The story is beautifully written and told by David Hein, and his choice of material for this book reflects an exquisite sensitivity to the important dimensions of a life lived "in Christ." I felt such admiration when I considered the extraordinary research effort that went into understanding Powell's life and the result produced in this wonderful biography. I hope the author will write more on the history of the Episcopal church.

This is an absolutely top-notch biography of an important (if heretofore little known) American Protestant leader. As Hein convincingly argues, Noble Powell was a representative figure who embodied the essential values of the religious "establishment" in the United States in the mid-twentieth century. I strongly recommend this book both to scholars and to ordinary readers interested in the evolving relationship between mainline Protestantism and American culture from 1920 to 1960.

Who needs to read about an Episcopal bishop who has been dead for 33
years? David Hein of Hood College in Frederick, Maryland persuades
us that anyone interested in the state of Christianity in America
today should know about Noble Cilley Powell, for two reasons: he was a
winsome, self-confident, compassionate leader who presided over a
church which attracted the faith of a generation emerging from the
Depression and World War II; and second, he represented a
turning-point in the role of mainline Protestantism. What Hein calls
"the Episcopal Establishment" had, at its best, a political
and social influence far beyond its numbers. Since his retirement on
Nov. 22, 1963-- the very day Kennedy was shot--the world changed and
so did the churches. In some ways this was a loss, in many ways a
gain, but it must be understood as a major shift. This
well-documented and clearly written biography shows that Noble Powell
represents the best of the old "establishment" and is a
gauge by which to measure what has changed.

This seemingly unassuming book is full of treasures to be discovered. David Hein's biography of Noble Cilley Powell, Episcopal Bishop of the diocese of Maryland from 1943 to 1963, presents so much more than an exact account of the life and works of a well-known and beloved Episcopal bishop. Hein's insightful and clear writing style is very effective at depicting the circumstances of the times in which Bishop Powell lived and how these shaped his character and his actions. The author also has been able to illustrate, through the testimonies of those who knew Bishop Powell at different stages of his life, how his noble and nurturing character influenced others inside and outside the church. But, for me the highest value of this biography is how Hein masterfully brought forth the connecting thread of Bishop Powell's life: a life signaled by love and friendship through Christ's love, or what Powell referred to as "love in action".

When Richard Bushman sent the final proofs of Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling to the publisher, he started an author's diary which he kept regularly for the following year, through publishing, reviews, book signings, lectures, and more. This slim book is that diary, and in just 130 pages it delivers the insights of several books. I think the book will be interesting to biographers who will see kindred struggles, to writers seeking to reach diverse audiences, and to Mormons who seek orthodoxy without sacrificing intellect. (It will be most interesting, however, if you have read Rough Stone Rolling.)

In the pages of this diary, we read Bushman's candid reactions to reviews: "I realize I don't like to read any kind of review, even the favorable ones. I am annoyed by what the reviewers choose to emphasize in Joseph's life. Most of them pick up a few fragments and present them as if they were the key elements" (31-32). He also admits to monitoring other indicators of reception: "I look up my Amazon rank a couple of times a day. I tell myself I am curious about how the system works, but it is mostly vanity I know" (55). The play-by-play response to reviews illustrate the frustration of an author in seeking for his work to be understood and seeing reviewers read only part of the book or completely miss the point.

Bushman also provides some of his own doctrinal exposition. He is a practicing Mormon (a patriarch and a temple sealer, both respected positions in the Church) with - as he puts it - an orthodox testimony. "A man...said, I bet your testimony is different from that of people in this room. I said it was, but that I believed in the gold plates" (108). He shares in this very personal book some of his views on our relationship to God (60-61), his view of a potential new public persona for the Church (105-106), and spiritual counsel on how to deal with doubts about Joseph Smith (110-111).

Bushman's principal dilemma in writing Rough Stone Rolling was trying to speak to both believing Mormons (many of whom have heard only praise for Joseph Smith throughout their lives) and curious non-Mormons (many of whom have never taken Smith seriously despite his accomplishments). As he reads reviews and gives talks, it becomes clear that he has lost some of the Mormons (one unnamed General Authority suggests his book will provide ammunition for anti-Mormons, others are supportive) and many of the non-Mormons (who see him as too sympathetic). He formulates an alternative approach he could have used to help non-Mormons along, and he questions (but ultimately defends) his decision to be explicit in his position as a practicing Mormon. Throughout, and especially in an essay he includes in the last few pages (123-127), he explores the question of how much of oneself to insert into a biography.

Finally, on a personal note, I enjoyed encountering books and people I have read. He talks about Greg Prince's recent (excellent) David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism and about having interactions with Laurel Thatcher Ulrich (whom I have had the pleasure of getting to know). He talks about interactions with Church leaders - Elder Holland, Elder Packer. These made the book feel a little more like family.

Fascinating, quick read, with parts to be enjoyed more than once. Highly recommended.

Great book. One would need to read Rough Stone Rolling prior, but put the frosting on the cake. Received from Amazon in great shape in good time.

I suspect this review is more personal than will be really helpful to Amazon readers. I write more to the the man than about the book.

Professor Bushman is a deep thinker. I am impressed by his dedication to his profession (and why shouldn't he be dedicated), and to his faith.

I also appreciated his candid discussion of his foibles and vanities. I think I begin to see that great things are accomplished by those who continue to "show up" as much as by those with genius (though I think Professor Bushman has plenty of genius). I get a chuckle from thinking of him checking his Amazon ranking because I'm just sure that I would do exactly the same thing. Isn't it just too human of us to want to know where we are "ranked," how we stack up against others.

Perhaps the most compelling part of this book, though, is Brother Bushman's obvious efforts to be true to his convictions and spread the word in ways that are consistent with his academic AND spiritual views. I find him to be living up to the Mormon motto that "all things are spiritual to God."

Well done, Professor. You are a credit to your faith.

This brief memoir (140 pages including the index) is a book about a book--Bushman's Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling (Alfred A. Knopf, 2005)--and the reaction it generated from Mormons and non-Mormons of various sorts during the author's yearlong promotional tour. On the Road will obviously be of greatest interest to those acquainted with Bushman or who at least have read Rough Stone Rolling; but the volume may also appeal to those curious about contemporary non-fiction book publishing or who are interested in how contemporary Mormon intellectuals try to sort out the more awkward aspects of their faith.

Bushman confesses to having a "sensitive temperament," and he is sometimes so revealing that the reader feels on the edge of voyeurism. For instance, Bushman expresses his frustration at forgetting his cell phone charger, he regularly checks the Amazon.com rankings of his book, and he compares the quality of his own interviews with those of President George W. Bush: "He seemed unsure and forced in his answers....Sitting before a reporter who was going to be more critical, he faltered, and I do the same. I also thought it was partly because he is not entirely honest. He keeps thinking of the criticisms of his statements and is not certain he is answering satisfactorily. As I watched I was of course applying these observations to myself." (94) The volume is full of what one nineteenth-century after-dinner speaker called "carriage speeches"--the revised discourses he made to himself on the way home in his carriage.

Bushman includes curious speculation about the nature of ultimate reality (60-62), which concludes with his pronouncement that "Mormons are not the only source of light" and that "Christ radiates throughout the world, through many voices." Yet he is willing enough to play down such sentiments for the present when Mormonism is "under attack from evangelical Christians." Bushman also expresses discomfort at Joseph Smith's polyandry and yet, for unspecified reasons, he swallows Smith's angels and golden plates whole. In the end, Bushman admits that by writing Rough Stone Rolling for both Mormons and non-Mormons, he attracted educated believers but lost readers at "both ends of the spectrum"--conservative Mormons who wanted an unsullied prophet with supernatural gifts and non-Mormons who were confirmed in their previous belief that Smith was only a charlatan.

Richard Bushman has published a brief account of dealing with his book, "Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling." I have read several other accounts of author's process of writing and reacting (John Steinbeck most notably), but have not felt that I reached the heart and soul of a man as this book does with Richard Bushman. He leaves nothing out.

Most interesting are his attempts to deal with an anti-Mormon audience vs. conservative Mormons. His motivations are pure and having read "Rough Stone Rolling," I think he has pulled off a major accomplishment. He is a great and sincere man. He certainly is at the forefront of LDS historians and scholars.

What a great concept! Not only does author Dianne Neal Matthews educate readers with interesting and intriguing information about historical events, but she also makes them personally and biblically relevant. I highly recommend these well-researched and well-written devotionals!

Matthews makes morning devotions an adventure in learning. Not only do I get a scriptural/spiritual lift from her book, I also get a tidbit of history to insert into my conversation with others. I look forward to seeing what happened on each day and the wonderful way she ties it in with a Biblical lesson.

Very appreciative of the use of interesting stories from the past that connect so beautifully to the things we deal with today. Great devotional for anyone to begin or end their day with. The insight into timely truths from the bible is a gift from God Himself and it will continues to be a blessing to all who read it.

As a history buff, I really enjoyed The One Year on This Day. There are plenty of places to find an "one this day in history" account, but having a devotional that ties the events to the hand of God (as if it could be any other way) is inspiring and thought provoking. For instance, July 30 was the day (in 1956) that "In God We Trust" became the national motto. In her devotional, Dianne Matthews encourages the reader to ponder whether America really does trust in God and shows us what that means by quoting David in Psalm 28:7. And on September 6 (the date when Google launched), Matthews talks about our need to search and ties it to searching the Scriptures for answers.

A creative twist on traditional devotionals. I highly recommend The One Year on This Day.

Cindy Thomson
Author of Brigid of Ireland and Co-author of Three Finger: The Mordecai Brown Story

My husband is a pastor, I am a speaker/writer, two of my children have degrees in theology, and my son-in-law is going for his Master of Divinity degree. My husband and I do devotions daily and the kids usually visit and join in on the weekends. Finding a devotional that doesn't get picked to pieces has been an on-going battle. We usually only get a few lines in and someone detects incorrect theology or some-such-thing and they cry foul. We've thrown more than one devotional away. We love the On This Day devotional! It's been deemed spiritually/Biblically accurate by my breakfast nook panel of judges, the history is interesting, and it's well written. Bravo!

As pastor's we should teach our people not only how to live well but also how to die well. This is one of those books that impact life. Every pastor should read it and have your congregations read it or beter yet, preach it to them.

The death of his friend, "Moe" who had Down's syndrome, caused Henri Nouwen to relook at one inescapable fact of all our lives. Is death so terrible that it must be feared, never spoken of or thought of? Speaker and author Nouwen thinks not and explains his thesis in this brief meditation.

Drawing on his own feelings upon reaching the age when he was closer to his death than his birth and the experiences of many friends, Nouwen crafted a slim volume in which he reminds us that we are children of God, brothers and sisters of each other, and parents of generations to come.

"Our Greatest Gift" is a warm and simple meditation discussing the realities involved in caring for those who are dying and in facing death ourselves.

- Gail Cooke

This book is a must read for everyone - not just for those caring for the dying or those who are confronting the issues of aging. Culturally, we are in denial about aging and death. This book takes great strides toward moving those who read it to confront the issues. It is not always a comfortable book to read, particularly if you are in the middle of working with someone for whom death is imminent, but it is absolutely essential to read it despite the discomfort. Highly recommended for everyone who works with people who age - which is all of us!

Our society says that only "productive" people are worthwhile. Nouwen challenges us all to see the inate worth of ALL people, not just those making a salary and contributing to the tax base.

We did a study of this book at Church and it made folks really think about life, death, aging, and the value of their loved ones who are in nursing homes, etc.

Henri Nouwen provides a well thought out view on dying. His concern is that we should treat dying as a normal part of living and we should examine our relationship with God. Death is a beautiful entrence to the Kingdom of Heaven and should be considered the next step in our life with God. This is an excellent book for those in ministry who work with families who are in grief due to the death of a loved one. The material provides background that may be utilized during funerals and consoling family members.