Church Books

This book is a Buddhist western woman's dream. Ani Tenzin Palmo has the ability to transcend Tibetan Buddhism's cultural differences and bring them into clarity for us right here and now. It is funny while being drop-dead serious, and very informative.

Venerable Tenzin Palmo describes in a very clear prose the benefits of meditation, its difficulties, how to overcome them, and extend this practice to our daily life. It is a book to be read more than once, and a must for those in quest of enlightment.

Reflections on a Mountain Lake is composed of Tenzin Palmo's talks to audiences of Western lay people and Buddhist nuns and monks. The talks cover a whole range of subjects on Buddhist teachings, practices and spiritual life. Reading her words of openness, warmth and fluidity, I felt as if I was with her in the audience. She begins with the story of her twelve-year retreat in a cave in the Himalayan mountains, and the words that fill the books seem to flow from that deep place of concentrated practice.

The book is lively, intelligent, practical and straightforward. Each chapter end with questions from the audience, such as: Where do thoughts arise from? Is it a good idea to take political action to right social evils? What's the process of making amends if you have acted unethically at some stage in your life? What happens if you don't keep your commitments?

One of her consistent messages is to keep it simple. She advises people not to be overcome by ambition to do more, or get more initiations and teachings. Tenzin Palmo has gained many insights and much wisdom from her practice and commitment, as if she has dug a deep, deep well from which she can bring up what is clearly needed in each different situation with people.

We all start with an undisciplined mind, and Tenzin Palmo has many excellent examples of how to approach spiritual practices and what these practices are all about. The mind has to be relaxed yet alert, and needs to be tuned like an instrument, with the knowledge of how to return to a clear place. It is then we can be of benefit to other people.

Tenzin Palmo is an example of how women are re-establishing the lineage of yogic practice for women. She is developing a Buddhist retreat for nuns and making available the teachings of Drukpa Kargyu lineage, which has a strong tradition of fully ordained female practitioners. Because of Tenzin Palmo's work, in 1995 nuns debated publicly for the first time in Tibetan history. "There is nothing that women cannot accomplish and have not accomplished in the past. It is up to us to support them...it is time to appreciate the whole picture and bring the two sides together."

I enjoyed Reflections on a Mountain Lake because Tenzin Palmo is a storyteller. Like all great teachers, she uses her personal life and traditional stories to engage us in the teachings. It seems somehow easier for the mind to catch hold of profound ideas if they are told as myth and metaphor. And because she tells many personal stories - from her home life as a child, her searching as a young woman and her times with her guru - she becomes human and accessible, as well as an example of dedication.

If I were to be stranded on a deserted island and could have but one book along, it would be Reflections on a Mountain Lake. With her lifetime in spiritual pursuit, twelve years as a woman in male dominated Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, and another twelve years alone in a cave in the Himalayas, Tenzin Palmo indeed has something to say. Our good fortune is that she is a talented orator and expresses herself with dazzling clarity and wit. Her persective on life (before, here and after) is deeply wise, casting welcome perspective on what It All is truly about. In the West we are proud of how many books we consume. In the East, the intense study of one magnificent book is revered. This is one such book.

This is a great book for Western Buddhists, especially useful as a loaner to friends seeking to understand Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana). It includes extensive Q&A; 8 photos, and a great number of quotable quotes. Ani Palmo (Ani is an honorific for a Buddhist nun) is VERY down-to-earth and realistic and relates a considerable about of advice and commentary from her Lama. She points out that Tibetan mythological themes should not be taken literally-even Tibetan teachers indicate this. For example:
pp. 61-2: "Shantideva says, `Who made the red-hot iron floors? All this is a projection of the personal mind.' Even if we don't believe in the physical reality of the hell realms, we can definitely believe that a mind filled with anger, which loves harming others and takes pleasure in cruelty, could easily project a paranoid environment for itself...the content of our inner mind is projected outward and becomes our entire reality." Furthermore, she invokes valid psychological principles such as: p. 67: "Those who deny the shadow are in a very insecure and precarious position...It is hard to develop true compassion when you are continuously blanking out all suffering from your own life." Also, Sociological principles: p. 81: "Today the West is making a significant contribution to the way the Dharma is presented. Every time the Buddhadharma travels to a new country, that country gives it something of itself."

Ani Palmo, in a highly readable and understandable style, provides pithy advice to practitioners: p. 93: "We need to dissolve the boundary between the subject and the object. In other words, we need to become the meditation" & p. 102: "Worldly desires are like salty water. The more you drink, the thirstier you get...The problem is the way we cling to things" & p. 141: "Our problem is that we believe our mind and identify with it." She also provides logical explanations for many Vajrayana practices: p. 95: "intricate visualizations of mandalas...totally occupy the mind so that there is no room for distraction." She provides considerable, pragmatic material on relationships between Vajrayana and Western religions: p. 96: "All true religions seek to gain access to that level of consciousness which is not ego-bound. In Buddhism it is called the unconditional, the unborn, the deathless. You can call it anything you like. You can call it atman. You can call it anatman. You can call it God." She also provides a number of intriguing teaching stories such as p. 103: monkeys captured by refusing to let go of a sweet--: "If you want to hold water, you have to hold it with cupped hands. If you make a tight fist, it runs away" and of a king unattached to his palace with a guru attached to his gourd. She also observes that the movie "Groundhog Day" can be interpreted as a Buddhist film about reincarnation and karma.

And, best of all, Ani Palmo provides quotes which defuse misconceptions concerning Buddhist doctrines: p. 156: "The Buddha said, `I too use conceptualization, but I am no longer fooled by it."
pp. 159-160: "Difficult Points for Westerners" chapter: "The Buddha replied, `do not take anything on trust merely because it has passed down through tradition, or because your teachers say it, or because your elders have taught you, or because it's written in some famous scripture. When you have seen it and experienced it for yourself to be right and true, then you can accept it.'" However, the one criticism might be that she fails to apply this regarding: p. 238: Eastern images & p. 241: Tibetan lineages.
p. 166: "According to the Buddhadharma, the most important component of any action of body, speech, or mind is intention."
p. 168: when asked about hell, her "Lama just laughed and said, `Oh well, we talk that way in order to frighten people into being good. Actually, it is very difficult to be reborn in hell. You have to be especially evil, and particularly, very cruel.'"
p. 169: "My Lama once said, `Not everything you read in the sutras is true. You don't have to believe everything you read.' ... The Tibetans took from that huge ocean a few drops of this and a few drops of that and put it together into a mixture which was helpful for Tibetans. Much of it is relevant for the rest of us as well. The ways they present the Dharma is wonderful. But there is no doubt that certain aspects, although helpful for them, are not very helpful for us. We can leave those aside." Higher teachings often contradict lower teachings and not everything is appropriate for everybody.
p. 191: "Some Tibetans say it's almost impossible to realize the nature of the mind without a teacher. I don't think that's true. Some people do realize the nature of mind spontaneously without a teacher. But a good teacher helps."

She also provides valuable observations and techniques on Vajrayana practices: pp. 179-180: in utilizing tonglen - "black pearl-like seed of self-cherishing at our heart center...sometimes instead of a black pearl...we can visualize a crystal Vajra which represents our innate Dharmakaya mind. The dark light absorbs into this and is instantly transformed into radiance, since no darkness exists within the pristine nature of the mind." p. 235: "My Lama always said to me, `Don't undertake big commitments. Keep your practice very small and simple, but do it.' ... I have always been very clear with lamas when it comes to initiations. Sorry, I am not keeping this commitment. I say this before taking the initiation, then they can decide whether or not it's okay for me to take it. Usually, they say its okay."

Provides the real challenges for real change in today's culture and our love for past formula's, our disdain for a world we disagree with.

This book is not filled with a statistics that tells the church what it already knows - "things are bad and the church is losing effectiveness."

McLaren digs into our thinking habits and compares that to the culture around us. He provides a bridge that helps us maintain our spiritual integrity but reaches out to a world that has fully embrassed the postmodern philosophy.

REINVENTING YOUR CHURCH

By Brian D. McLaren

There are many books being written these days on the need for change in the church. This book certainly should be included among the better in this category. It is remarkable for its clarity of thought and its balance in venturing into this somewhat controversial area. The author does not hesitate to suggest bold and radical departures from "tradition", but not without good reason.

For example, he distinguishes between renewed, restored and reinvented churches. "The renewed church is an old church that, after having lost touch with its own people, goes through a process of change in order to relate to them and better meet their needs again." (p. 20).

The restored church is the result of a sincere effort to establish a "New Testament Church". Often this involves resurrecting some detail of New Testament church life, and making it the litmus test of faithfulness to the Biblical pattern. For this reason, McLaren suggests that the restored church often becomes "The Church of the Lost Detail". The "lost detail" can be almost any form that is found in the book of Acts, such as speaking in tongues, elder rule, house churches, one church per city or whatever. McLaren is not nasty about it, but he does conclude that eventually this lost detail assumes a significance beyond all sane proportions.

"By contrast, the reinvented church not only changes its style, but it changes its attitude. Change is accepted as an unchanging fact of life. The reinvented church not only catches up to the present but also corrects those tendencies that would make it keep falling behind. It removes the anti-change bias." (p. 21)

The reinvented church is characterized by "paradigm pliancy". Paradigm pliancy requires a strategy of maximizing discontinuity, "which means not trying to fix up the horse to get a few more miles out of it, but burying it and looking for a new one. The journey is the important thing, not the horse that you take to get there." (p.23)

Perhaps the most significant aspect of this book is the fact that the author has actually gone through the trauma of "re-inventing" his church. In 1982, he planted a church that grew from 11 to about a hundred in three years. He was dismayed, however, that practically all the growth had come by transfer from other churches. He therefore proposed to his church that they "maximize discontinuity" by disbanding it for a period of ten months, after which they would launch a new church with a new name in a new location with a new mission of reaching secular people. Those who like lists, especially long lists, will love this book. The chapter titles are a list of 13 strategies for reinventing your church. In addition, many of the individual strategies consist of long lists as well. For example, he lists:

a) 14 observations on system thinking

b) 6 traditions to trade up for Tradition

c) 5 characteristics of an ineffectual apologetic and 5 new apologetic themes

d) 5 hunches on learning a new rhetoric

e) 16 conclusions on abandoning structures as they are outgrown

f) 7 characteristics of the new breed of leaders

g) A long (21!) list of problems in missions and a short (6) list of solutions

h) 5 core values of postmodernism

i) 15 ways of engaging postmodernism

A major thrust of this book has to do with better equipping Christians to engage meaningfully with unbelievers. He decries the "Christian nation" myth, which breeds an "us and them" mentality and makes us hostile to those to whom we should show compassion. For example, in his second strategy of redefining our mission, he insists that we need both more Christians and better Christians. By this, he means that the key to reaching unbelievers is to be better Christians, that is Christians who better incarnate the Gospel of Him Who was a "friend of publicans and sinners". Even more than seeker-sensitive churches, we need seeker-sensitive Christians. Instead, we often find Christians that are "seeker-hostile", as parodied in a Moody Monthly cover story entitled "Sinners in the Hands of Angry Christians".

McLaren has several excellent thoughts on leadership as well. The title of the chapter on leadership: "Save the Leaders" suggests the many perils that leaders face, and he expresses his regret that many qualified leaders have left, or are considering leaving, the ministry. Perhaps his most helpful insight on leadership is a list of reasons why imitating success in leadership can guarantee failure:

He also gives some very helpful guidelines for understanding and engaging postmodernism, which he sees as a reality with which we must come to terms. He writes: "Opposing postmodernism is as futile as opposing the English language. It's here. It's reality. It's the future." (p. 69)

McLaren questions the assertion that post-moderns don't believe in absolute truth. He suggests that the real issue may be one of absolute certainty. He further argues that post-moderns may care so much about truth that they are skeptical of the ability of fallible human beings to apprehend it or communicate it accurately. Seen from this point of view, it is easy to see how our certainty about knowing absolute truth can come across not as faith but arrogance. Furthermore, many post-moderns probably question our commitment to absolute truth because we seem to have such a hard time agreeing on what it is. He writes: "We have to distinguish between genuine Christianity and our (individual and various culture-encoded) versions of it." (p. 178)

There are several other very helpful chapters on topics such as leadership, church structure, apologetics, theology, and missions that make this book well worth the reading. It will be especially enlightening and helpful for those who are seeking to "go to" the lost and engaging them with the Gospel.

John Ed Robertson

November 27, 1998

The title does not accurately describe the contents of this book. Reinventing Your Church is not about comprimising the values and morals of Christ for the sake of the world, but just the methods of how the church chooses to communicate them. Brian McLaren really takes an honest look at why people are so turned off by church today. He states that our culture continues to change, and that churches need to adjust their mothodologies to spread the gospel effectively. He doesn't condemn any particular denomination, but explains how each church needs to understand who they are trying to reach and how to create an environment to welcome those individuals.

This book is a "must read" for every church leader and Bible College student. If you are struggling with how to understand and communicate with those steeped in Postmodern thought this book has many answers. Its not just another mega-church "how to" book. Reinventing Your Church goes much farther. This book is a refreshing and practical look at what it will take to communicate Jesus to the world in the next generation. The chapter on missions is especially insightful.

Brian gives us a book that actually tackles the postmodern subject without losing the reader with philosophical jargon. I found that his approach is so practical because he is living it out. He writes out of experience and gives us a framework to enter this bold new world with a sense of optimism rather than fear, excitement rather than dread.

His writings on leadership and missions are a must read for every church practitioner.

Very good, scripturally based guide to financial management for Christians. I felt he came close to the "true" prosperity doctrine, rather than the hyped ones on television. I would have liked more discussion of non-cash based wealth building, e.g. wealth through children and grandchildren. Still, it is a great read.

I have always believed that as Christians it is my duty to have a poverty mentality and live simply. After reading the book and finding the history about the Jewish people how they were trained by their rabbis to be leaders in the gates it is no wonder the "lie" that Christians should sit as couch potatoes and insulate ourselves from the world has affected our thinking. As a result the church no longer sits in the gates of the city as leaders. This has empowered me to get out of the gutter and get my five kids in leadership positions in the community with myself and my wife as well. Thank you Muratori. Thank You Jesus.

In reading Rich Church Poor Church I have never been so challenged on the basic fundamentals of living. The nuggets of knowledge in this book are things I wish I had the luxury of being taught in College, and in my opinion this book has the capability as being used as a wonderful text in a collegiate course. John Muratori transcends cultural barriers by exposing the laws and strategies of the worlds most financially secure and powerful social community, while brilliantly showing how we can in turn apply those truths to our own lives. I give this book a 5-star rating; this is truly a learning text.

I am a financial planner, and also majored in finance in College. I have read financial books from the smartest and wealthiest people in the world, yet have never come across a MASTERPEICE like this before. The research is extremely thorough. I can fully vouch for this text as a complete manual for modern economics, wealth creation, and stewardship principles. The principles in this book transcend generations,gender,and social background. If you are a parent or grandparent this is a gift that could absolutely open the financial eyes of your child. This is the type of read that only comes around once in a great while.

In my opinion, this book is a milestone in the history of writing on biblical principles as they apply to finance and true wealth. It is so well written, I couldn't put it down. Frankly, I don't have much use for the "name it and claim it" overly simplistic writing that is out there. Muratori, combines a deep understanding of the bible with a real passion for the subject. The truth jumps off the page. The concepts are so solid, that I began to apply them immediately. One section, that deals with the beginnings of capitalism, banking and investing is worth the price of the book all by itself. It's something I have not seen anywhere else. Anyone who reads and studies this book, will understand how the system works so that they can put it to work in their own lives. Secrets the elite have known are laid bare in this truly inspired book. Wall Street insiders will be shocked at how this book lays out the truth about money, debt, investing, personal and family prosperity, generosity, compassionate uses of resources and a whole lot more. Christians and non-Christians alike will gain tremendous insights by reading this book. It is simply one of the best ever written because the power behind it is the greatest known to man.

This is the best book I've read on this subject. This type of Christian thought certainly attracts a lot of pseudo-Christians and there seems to be more books written on Christian mysticism by non-Christians than real ones nowadays, but this book is not one of them. It's basically a compendium of mystical Christian thought from the first millenium. This is a book that needs to be read more than once, the information in it is incredibly complex and engaging. When reading this book the Truth of it can be felt on every page; nothing less than the science of love.

Orthodox Theologian Olivier Clement's book is nothing short of a masterpiece. I read this book almost three years ago while in a directed study by one of my professors as I was conducting a research paper for a conference. Their is so much to say, but it would require a lengthy review because the information in this book requires great consideration - I cannot do this book justice here. I will, however, touch on a couple of chapters.

In Chapter 4 of Part 2, titled "Passions Transfigured, Thought Transcended" one learns the importance to purifying his or her heart, so they "can see God." He quotes at length early Church Fathers from Augustine to Chrysostom, from Diadochus of Photike to Climacus. This little chapter is truly mind blowing and heart provoking. Enstasy-Ecstasy which is chapter three of Part three titled "Approaches to Contemplation" is a brilliant chapter.

There is so much that is powerful and enlightening about this book, with commentary after quotes from many Church Fathers that a serious Christian needs to read this book and contemplate the material to grow in the Holy Spirit. One will find themselves referring to this book often.

Excellent, excellent book. Clement does an outstanding job of bringing together quotes by early church fathers. They are organized in a cohesive manner with useful commentary by Clement.

My first reaction as I began to read the book was, "Awesome." I have read some of the early church writings, but generally got bogged down in their style of writing. Clement brings out the richness of what they wrote and said. I am analytical and tend to think a lot, but was blown over by the depth of thought of some of these fathers. They wrote of things I never even considered. They contemplated mysteries and concepts in a way which brings out the shallowness of modern Christian thought.

This is a scholarly work, but which reads more like a devotional. I usually read through a book in a matter of days. However, this one took months. There is such depth that it requires reading a few pages and setting it aside to contemplate what was said. In terms of its value to me, I would place this book second only to the Bible.

Olivier Clement is a French Eastern Orthodox Christian theologian. He has gathered selections from the Church Fathers (and some Mothers too) by topics. Some selections are just a sentence or two, others are several paragraphs. His commentary is brief and usually helpful, but the book's real greatness is that the spirit of the Fathers is so accessible. In this book, everyone can have easy access to the spirituality of ancient Christians. There is deep theology, but also extensive practical sections on prayer and virtues. The English title is inappropriate; the French title is simply "Christian Sources." Clement does not present Christian esotericism but mainstream ancient Christian thought.

I strongly recommend this book to everyone. If you think you are familiar with Christianity, it will open your eyes to the true depths of Christian wisdom. If you are not familiar with Christianity, this book presents the heart of God and the ancient Christian path with clarity, compassion, and wisdom.

This awe-inspiring and other-worldly book has the ability to unite Christians, if we would simply accept its challenge and walk our talk. Its anecdotal wisdom comes from the authentic writings of the Early Church Fathers, allowing us insight and verification of the truths believed by a Church living a sacrificial and apostolic faith. Its wisdom does not correspond with the "me first" mentality of our culture. It is, however, the true "Way" of following Christ, mystically united to Him.

It is full of wisdom in anecdotal form, meditations one could chew on henceforth, in accompaniment with the Holy Scriptures.

As readers, we must ask ourselves, are we looking to serve ourselves, or are we seeking the kingdom "not of this world"? This otherworldly book belongs beside the Holy Scriptures for our daily meditation. We should study its truths, for this is THE FAITH of the FATHERS, the one, holy, and apostolic faith.

If you can accept its challenge, your life will be richer, truer to Christ, and nourished by solid meat for spiritual food.

This beautifully illustrated book is what every person who knows how to pray the rosary or would like to learn needs. The text is wonderfully written with explainations of prayers and Christian timelines in history that offer insight into these prayers. The illustrations are and added bonus and inpsire the reader to really focus on the prayers they are saying. This is a book that should be shared with friends, who like yourself may need refreshment of prayer or first time teaching of how to pray the rosary. As Catholics it is assumed that we were taught this in school, but if you are around 50 years old you may not have learned how to pray the rosary like I did not. This book will be of great value to you for a lifetime.

This book is a beautifully done work explaining a completely beautiful prayer. It will help a beginner to more fully understand and someone who has been saying the Rosary for years to grow in their understanding and appreciation for this wonderful form of prayer.

I bought this book for my daughter who is away at college.
It is also in our Eucharistic Adoration Chapel at St. Peter in Geneva.
I have seen many people reading it during their prayer time in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It has a complete list of references for each Mystery of the Rosary. For example, a scripture passage from the Gospel of Mark is printed for the Fourth Luminous Mystery, the Transfiguration. The chapter and verse where this same passage can be found in the Gospels of Luke and John are also noted. At the back of the book there is also a good list of Marian Organizations with their addresses and websites, a detailed bibliography and an index.

Doyle's latest book is a basic presentation on the rosary for beginners and also a rich resource for those who have a little and a lot of experience and knowledge of this prayer form. She opens with a history of the rosary, an explanation of the individual prayers, and an overview of the mysteries. It is here that she invites readers to consider the scriptural basis of the mysteries, suggesting a variety of ways they may be tied to church teaching and everyday life. She also suggests alternatives to saying the rosary daily when our prayer time is limited.

The rosary, Doyle shows us, is a many-faceted devotion that shapes and is shaped by our changing life circumstances. She uses the joyful mysteries as an example. As a child, she saw them as a sequential story from Jesus' conception to age 12. As a young mother, she identified more with Mary as a role model. Later in life her focus when reciting these mysteries shifted toward the revelation of God through the person of Jesus.

The core of the book consists of a complete rosary for each of the four mystery groups: joyful, luminous, sorrowful, and glorious. For each mystery, Doyle provides the relevant scripture passage and her own reflection. All mysteries are accompanied by annotated scans of a rosary to aid beginners and enriched with unique full-page illustrations depicting the theme. The final section contains more prayers and basic teaching tools, lists of Marian organizations, a glossary, bibliography, and index.

This was the best book I have ever read! Mary Doyle is a wonderful author, and this book is a must for all Catholic households, and a must for anyone who enjoys a good read! The illustrations were also just to die for

The note I wrote on the inside page of this book reads as follows:"Absolutely fascinating!" How come? Because Ms. LaPlante presents us with a character who lived as a giant in his own time. But more, she offers a clear picture of the potent religious world view and powerful lens of faith through which citizens of Puritan New England perceived the world and their place in it. The reader will find this approach not only interesting but, as the author describes Sewall's engagement with life and with his God, both existentially and theologcally terrifying. The witch trials arise from the nexus of life's uncertainty in 17th century Massachusetts and a fierce and unpredictable God through whom the likes of Samuel Sewall try to discern the "realities" of good and evil. He,his neighbors and colleagues can discern wrongly . . . as Sewall himself confessed some five years after the trials he oversaw as judge.
But enough of this. Ms LaPlante mines Sewall's diaries and public writings for - yes - romance! In addition, she finds him a humane and civil defender of Native Americans amid local, social contempt.Sewall wrote the first Anti-slavery tract in North America, a touching and compassionate piece. He testified from a vivid Biblical perspective in behalf of gender equality when such thinking brought widespread disdain. His personal and public presence as described by the author represent a monumental figure in early American history. You will find the book clearly written and every effort made to explain to ignorant moderns 17th century language and cultural nuances. The title tags Sewall as "Witch Judge." OK. But really, so much more. Indeed, absolutely fascinating!

Eve LaPlante's book on Samuel Sewell, one of the judges in the Salem Witch Trials (and her distant ancestor) is extraordinarily well researched, and her prose is easy to follow. Those not intimately familiar with the history of the time will appreciate her care in explaining details that many have now forgotten.

Ms. LaPlante's style is worthy of comparison to Claire Tomalin's (the author of the great biography of Sewell's contemporary, Samuel Pepys). She well explains the beliefs and folkways of the times, i.e., Massachusetts in the last half of the 17th century. She reminds us of the extraordinary "dangers, toils and snares" (to quote a later hymn) that the New England colonies had gone through after the first, pleasant, and peaceful foundation of the colonies at Boston and Plymouth, exacerbated by the sudden war with France that followed the accession of William and Mary in 1688. All these people could do was to ascribe to witchcraft the disasters that in reality were the inevitable result of our ancestor's struggle to make their homes in a world that had finally become hostile to them.

Remarkably, Sewell was semi-ostracized by his pastor, who came to feel the witch trials were unjust, and in response, he made a public confession of the sinfulness of his Court's proceedings -- the only judge to do so.

The book should be read along with the great book about the era, "Manitou and Providence", with the sermons of Cotton Mather and his father, Increase (some of them, at least) and of course with Arthur Miller's play, "The Crucible", which takes some license with historical fact, in the service of a very good story.

Author Eve LaPlante, who is a descendant of witchcraft judge Samuel Sewall, covers her subject well in this book. Life was difficult in Puritan New England with death being a common visitor to families with many children lucky to live beyond the age of five. Puritans came to America for land and religious freedom, but were not accepting to those whose beliefs differed from their own. People often questioned their salvation and figured that hard times such as diseases and death among family members was due to having angered God in some way. Prayer was the most accepted method of dealing with a sick individual. A vaccination for smallpox was viewed by many as unacceptable. Surprisingly enough, Cotton Mather was open to the idea. Women certainly took a back seat in Puritan New England with their job being the bearing of children. Puritans even questioned whether or not women would be in God's heavenly kingdom. Approximately half of the book deals with the witchcraft craze of 1692, a belief they brought over from Europe. The question of whether or not the girls believed they were afflicted will never be settled. If they did it to spice up their otherwise humdrum lives they could be charged with murder. Judge Samuel Sewall had the courage to own up to his mistake while the other judges did not. Author Nathaniel Hawthorne added a "w" to his last name to disassociate himself from his ancestor John Hathorne who was an unrepentant judge at the trials. It seems difficult to believe that judges could convict people based on spectral evidence whereby you could prove where you were at a certain time, but you couldn't prove where your "shape" was. The final section of the book relates the latter part of Judge Samuel Sewall's life and others who were influential during this time period. The author also provides us with directions to visit sites mentioned in the book. I have done previous reading on this subject during my college days, and this is one of the best sources I have come across.

The author, a direct descendant of Samuel Sewall, provides a much-needed full assessment of the life of her notorious ancestor. The most important fact in this book is provided in the frontispiece illustration--a portrait of Sewell's apology before his congregation for his role in the witch trials and executions, known by few, if any, readers outside Massachusetts' students of history. Sewell was the only judge to apologize for his role in this horrific episode in American history.
More fascinating, though, are the other extraordinary acts of repentance enacted by the judge over his long life. And his writings are nothing less than astounding--including examinations of experiences of various groups and even a piece on women - making him an equalitarian of the first order centuries ahead of his time. At the least, official historical accounts of what happened at Salem need to include information about Sewall's apology and repentance.

This fascinating account of an early American leader's
public and private life is the story of a good man who
was guilty of a terrible mistake. Seeing he did wrong,
Samuel Sewall had the courage to say so, and repent.
Eve LaPlante paints a vivid portrait of life in early
New England, especially the world of the educated
elite. Religion and the Bible were the dominant
intellectual features of a world ruled by fears and
disagreements only too comprehensible to us now.
Sewall and his peers worried about foreign relations
and governmental debt, and lived in constant fear of
attacks by Indians, pirates, and the French. "Salem
Witch Judge" offers an intriguing journey into a world
as far away as colonial America, yet at the same time
as close as the human heart.

This book is perhaps the clearest presentation of the perennial philosophy I've ever read. Jager successfully - no, consumately - shows the reader that the esoteric aspects of religious pursuits, the world over, are speaking of the same thing, but the exoteric aspects of religions are what separate them. He does not argue for the melding of religions, but he makes a compelling case for religions being, in a sense, diverse cultural responses to the same transcendental experience.

I very much appreciated the line he paraphrases from Karl Rahner, "Men and women of the future will be mystics, or they won't be at all." Jager says that our future as a species is inextricably bound up with how well we do, as a species, in waking up to our own true natures. As I look at the world around me, I can't agree more.

If anyone is looking for a good explanation of mysticism, they need go no further. This is simply a spectacular book.

A friend of mine was a student of Jager, and she started me reading him. All his books are very clear, good, helpful, but this is his magnum opus. It covers the subject very completely. It is full of encouragement. It answers many personal questions. It is truly original, and simultaneously true to all the deep spiritual traditions.
Just as my friend recommended Jager to me, I recomment him to anyone really interested in a guide for the hard path of inner work. This is a great book.

review by Janet Knori, author of Awakening in God

This book IS the finest summary of mysticism I have read to date. The author describes the history and practice of the great Christian mystics e.g. John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, but never fails to parallel with the Eastern non-Christian traditions such as Buddhism. This is very helpful for many who use both in their spiritual journey. The real treasure of this volume, however, is the author's clarity. I loved it.

This book has influenced me more than any other book I have read. I try to re-read it once a year because I learn something new every time I read it. I highly recommend it - but it is not an "easy read." The reader must read it slowly and ponder the information.

Words like clear, solid, sober, gentle, profound, whole, come to mind when trying to describe this book. It puts into simple words what you have previously grasped intuitively about your inner search and experience of the Divine. It is not a New Age work promising short-cuts to ecstasy. In fact, Jager stresses that emotional highs are not the goal but rather the goal is the awakening into a new life, which is our very same old life only transformed. Reading the book is like having a dialogue with a wise, calm and cautious spiritual director who carefully encourages us to pursue our promptings, which are nothing else than God calling us by name. While the book's orientation is Christian, Jager recognizes the unity of all contemplative paths. The only caveat, and it is by no means a reservation, is to be careful as you read Jager's description of depression as a process inherent in the path of transformation. It is not Jager's intent, but it would be unfortunate if his words would deter someone in the midst of suffering from seeking help. The reader should always remember that the goal is wholeness and health, even as he accepts and detects a purpose behind the pain she is going through.

This is a well written book about a hero of WW II who was given the Legion of Merit, and the Distinguished Service Cross. The book reveals his patriotic character as a Christian missionary and a captain in the 14th Air Force Flying Tigers intelligence division and the OSS. John Birch's story is an inspiring account of a man committed to his ideas. It also reveals the political intrigue between the Nationalists, Communists, and America forces fighting the war in China and furthermore contributes to a deeper understanding of the political intrigue that occured in the U.S.A. during the waning yeas of the war. It's a book that can be easily read aloud to elementary aged children.

It was amazing to read this testimony of a Christian. I can only agree with so many of John Birch's convictions and views whether it is his stand against liberalism in American colleges and against communism abroad. If the message of John Birch had reached all of America in time, China would be a different nation today. There was a chance back then to defeat Chinese communism. It did not happen and look what a tyranny China is today. Most of all I like that John Birch stood squarely for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for the inerrancy of the Bible, for salvation by grace through faith, for soulwinning, for world missions. He must have had some strong dispensational, premillenial views. This book encouraged me greatly and I do recommend it esp. to college and high school students as well as those interested in Bible-believing mission work.

While there could be better books on John Birch, more than likely this is the only one that will ever be published. With this in mind, it is an excellent account of one of the true military heroes of World War II and a Christian as well. Birch's name has been sullied by its use for the right-wing political organization and few are aware of who he really was. Although he is slightly known in the fundamentalist Baptist circles that produced him, even then very little is known about him other than that he was a missionary in China who became an intelligence officer and was killed by Chinese communists at the end of World War II. The authors have done a good job of documenting his life. Every American, Christians especially, should read this book.

I found it difficult to put this book down before had I finished it, and I can't say that about many books that I have read.

The Hefleys did a superb job "painting a picture" of the short life of this incredible man. Birch was a very "intense" character; I got the impression he was always working on something, he was non-stop...whether it was the rescue of the Doolittle crew, or setting up an intelligence network across the entirety of China or most importantly, bringing Chinese brothers and sisters to Christ, John never let anything stand in his way.

It has been said (in this book and in other sources) that John's death was a result of his "irrational behavior" which in turn, was a result of 3 years of his non-stop activity behind enemy lines. But from what I read, I understand that John knew something that the rest of these people did not understand. You see, John was a very intelligent man...how many English-speaking people do you know are capable of mastering several Chinese dialects in 6 weeks?

John saw something about these "agrarian reformers--" he saw the pure wickedness within them. So John, at the very end of his life, was willing to sacrifice himself, in order to make a demonstration as to whether the Communists were our friend or our enemy. This very nearly became a tragic mistake--you see, John assumed that if the Communists killed him and thus demonstrated themselves to be our enemy, then the United States would immediately seek retribution and demolish the Communists, at least those in China. This turned out not to be the case. In fact, our US Government sought to cover up John's death. This the government did by listing the murder of Birch as an "accident--" that is, "he was killed by stray bullets" was the lie. And what was the reason for this cover up? Well, the Truman administration and their allies in the press did not want to make the murder public, lest there be resentment held by the American people against the Communists! And why would these conspirators care about something like that happening? Take a wild guess.

In spite of all this, a miracle did happen. A Chinese companion of John Birch, who was left to die with Birch, and who suffered nearly the same wounds as Birch, lived to tell his story. And the truth became known. Not by many people at first, but thanks to the loving dedication of Mr. and Mrs. George Birch (John's parents) and Mr. Robert Welch, the life and death of John Birch began to become known to millions of Americans. If it were not for the work of these three people, I guarantee you you would never have heard of this man John Birch, and neither would I be writing this review.

Unfortunately too many well-meaning Americans (some are even characters in this book) chastise Robert Welch for naming his Society after Birch. They say "John would never approve." From what I read in this book by the Hefleys, I get the impression that John would approve. (John's parents certainly approved!) John may not ever have joined the John Birch Society, however I know that he would have approved the hard work and dedication of Mr. Welch and members of the Society in "getting the word out." This is exactly what John wanted to have happen.

Forget about the society that bears his name and read the Real Story of an unusual Christian hero. John Birch, soul-winner, soldier and patriot is a man you would do well to read about, and Hefly-- a foremost Christian biographer-- does a great job presenting his story and the decisions of his conscience in the light of God's Word.

Good reading for any Christian and especially any Independent Baptist.

She has a unique perspective on the stories in the book of Matthew that make you feel like you're reading the book for the very first time. There's always something to learn from her.

Mrs. Taylor's fifteen sermons printed here are not new ones but they are fresh and challenging to adult and young adult students, even if they have heard them before. Recommended highly for study groups.

Excellent! I love the way Barbara Brown makes the scripture relevant to the everyday world. She has an entertaining way of expressing her thoughts.

Barbara Brown Taylor shares her sermons and insight on the typical gospel of Matthew but add so much more. This book is so impressive we have incorporated it into our Lenten program for this year. Thanks Barbara for this wonderful collection.

I purchased the book to be used in an adult church education class. The volume is a collection of sermons based on the Gospel of Matthew. They are scholarly, yet easy to read. Taylor provides some fresh interpretation to this beloved old gospel. Her ideas make for lively in-class discussion. I recommend her work very highly.

In this world of Knowledge and the propensity to believe in things are reasoned by Sciences, this book prods us, that the ultimate is still GOD. I for one, has fallen out a number of times, with an ardent attempt at things secular, despite my inner cravings for a deeper faith in God. This book sets out reminding me of my corporal life and all that surrounds me is nothing, but temporal. It is a rare find, given my recent yearning to return as a prodigal son and my inner inclination to detach all materialism and let it take a back seat. Despite the classic prose as expected of an author who lived more than 100 years ago, I understood his writing thoroughly, although I am not an European nor an American. This, indeed is an oasis of a find for answers from the Word Made Flesh, and is dwelling amongst us. In short, "go get it, all you who wants rest, for His Yoke is light and easy."

John Henry Newman spent most of his long life making the principles of his Christian faith, first as an Anglican and later as a Roman Catholic Cardinal, clear and easily understandable to his audiences. A gifted writer and speaker, his lectures and sermons still resonate today. Although I am neither Catholic nor Anglican, his assurances of God's love and of sustaining faith have always attracted me. Recently, as I have suffered through the final illness and death of my mother, I have found in this volume a new source of comfort.

It is increasingly difficult these days to find true intellectual support within established religion. How good it is to be able to pick up this volume and to read Newman's cerebral discussions and assurances!

Not many words from me. This volume of Newman is simply a "must read." Read and meditate. You'll send some as gifts. It IS that good.

Buy it.

Reverent of, obedient to, and profoundly in love with God-this is what Cardinal Newman is all about, and this is how he encourages us to live. His sermons may be instructive, admonishing, or inspirational, but are always enlightening, challenging, and reasoned. He has a remarkable ability to interpret God's Word in ways that hit home to everyday people. He conveys the sense of urgency with which we must turn from sin, yet understands our nature enough to know it takes time and enormous patience. Well worth reading!!

In this world of Knowledge and the propensity to believe in things are reasoned by Sciences, this book prods us, that the ultimate is still GOD. I for one, has fallen out a number of times, with an ardent attempt at things secular, despite my inner cravings for a deeper faith in God. This book sets out reminding me of my corporal life and all that surrounds me is nothing, but temporal. It is a rare find, given my recent yearning to return as a prodigal son and my inner inclination to detach all materialism and let it take a back seat. Despite the classic prose as expected of an author who lived more than 100 years ago, I understood his writing thoroughly, although I am not an European nor an American. This, indeed is an oasis of a find for answers from the Word Made Flesh, and is dwelling amongst us. In short, "go get it, all you who wants rest, for His Yoke is light and easy."