Home » Posts tagged 'Jesus'
Tag Archives: Jesus
The Forgotten Names—forever a timely reminder
The Forgotten Names
by Mario Escobar
translated by Gretchen Abernathy
Many historical novels focus on one particular character and develop a story around that character. If it is a dual timeline, then the focus is on one character in each timeline. Escobar’s The Forgotten Names does, in the current timeline, focus on a nonfictional French historian and law student, Valérie Portheret. She spent 25 years identifying at least 90 of the 108 children whose identities were deliberately and necessarily abandoned in the rescue attempt from the Vénissieux internment camp near Lyon. Had their brave parents not signed release forms giving up their parental rights, the children would certainly have been killed by the Nazis who issued mandates for the number of Jews to be “processed.” The Vichy government was theoretically in control of France, but the reality was that they answered to the Nazis who disregarded both the legalities and moralities of the French.
A diverse coalition of Catholics, Protestants, and Jews, including social workers and Resistance organizations, found a loophole in the law. Orphaned minors could obtain an exemption from the roundup that sent the occupants of Vénissieux to their deaths. Escobar tells of the harrowing days and nights spent getting parents to agree, separating the children from their parents, arranging for new homes, transporting them to Lyon, and keeping them until the new parents arrived. All very secretive and all very dangerous for everyone involved in any way.
Escobar is a historian, but he also knows how to tell a story. The chapters are short, encouraging the reader to jump from the end of one into the beginning of the next chapter. The escape story of 1942 is framed by the research story which begins in 1992 when it was still difficult to find a sympathetic advisor. Sadly, the research was hampered by continuing anti-Semitism, rising fascism, and a reluctance to open up wounds of the past. Portheret persisted in locating the children for twenty-five years. The novel is personalized with the backgrounds and experiences of various children and families as imagined by Escobar. In this way, a sad part of history is brought to life with the goal of societies not repeating the horrific tragedies so many suffered through. Portheret originally planned her thesis to examine the life of the infamous Klaus Barbie, known as “the Butcher of Lyon.” As she began her work, however, she found herself drawn to the plan to “exterminate innocent children” and preferred to focus on the victims rather than the barbaric individuals who perpetrated the crimes.
There are so many books about World War II and the Nazis, but this is a new take on the crimes committed in that war. As hard as it is to read about the suffering of innocents whose only crime is to be Jewish, I am glad I read this book. Some of the Christian characters connect various events to Christian theology such as the birth of Jesus who was a Jew, God given Christian/human morality “which imposes duties and recognizes rights,” and the “demands of charity [love] made by Christ to be the distinctive mark of his disciples.” Above all is the emphasis that the human heart rebels against the cruel and painful measures enacted on Jews and certain groups of foreigners.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Historical Fiction, Multicultural
Notes: The book contains references and something I always look for in historical fiction—a discussion of what is real and what is fictional. What follows is a World War II timeline beginning with the invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939 and continuing through the surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allies in 1945. The book concludes with Discussion Questions, information about the author who is Spanish and the translator.
Publication: June 11, 2024—Harper Muse
Memorable Lines:
“Have you noticed how the executioners often end up as celebrities? There are books and books about them. But so few write about their victims. The victims are mere numbers, faceless statistics, figures on the yellowed pages of history.”
The land of Mozart, Goethe, and Immanuel Kant had become a nation of barbarians, of heartless warriors whose driving desire was to control the human race and conquer the world.
“But now everybody—at least in the West—knows that it’s wrong to sacrifice humans. Maybe war will teach us a lesson we can’t learn any other way: the lesson that killing one another for our ideas, beliefs, or flags is absurd, because we all belong to the only human race there is, and we’re all brothers and sister of one another.”
Practicing the Way–becoming more like Jesus
Practicing the Way
By John Mark Comer
The founder of Practicing the Way, John Mark Comer, brings his skills as a pastor, writer, podcaster, and teacher to this nonprofit that “develops spiritual formation resources for churches and small groups learning how to become apprentices in the Way of Jesus.” These are free resources. I was not surprised to learn that this book is a teaching resource. Comer is a highly organized thinker who develops his materials around lists, lists, and more lists.
Learning about the teaching methods of the many rabbis during the time of Christ was eye opening to me. Disciples of a rabbi answered a call by the rabbi to follow him and learn by observation and doing. The emphasis of this book for followers of Jesus today is on being apprenticed to Jesus, learning to be like him, not following a bunch of rules.
In a section on finding peace in this digital age, I identified with the author’s response to the stress and frustration most people feel in our society. I think he nailed it with: “The most powerful companies in the history of the world are working around the clock with the most sophisticated algorithms ever devised to stoke your fear and feed your anger, by any means necessary.”
This book is not going to miraculously turn you into “Super Christian,” but will help you think through what being a follower of Jesus means. It is full of quotes by a variety of authors. The purpose of the quotes seems to be to show that others think the way Comer thinks or to expand on what he is saying.
The thesis of the book encourages the reader to:
Be with Jesus
Become like him
Do as he did
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Christianity, Religion and Spirituality
Notes: This book is appropriate for all—from individuals who are just beginning to think about possibly wanting to learn more about Jesus to those who have been following Him for years but realize that they need to continue a fellowship with God that will lead them to be more like Him.
Publication: January 16, 2024—Waterbrook
Memorable Lines:
Apprenticeship to Jesus—that is, following Jesus—is a whole-life process of being with Jesus for the purpose of becoming like him and carrying on his work in the world. It’s a lifelong journey in which we gradually learn to say and do the kinds of things Jesus said and did as we apprentice under him in every facet of our lives.
…the reward for following Jesus is, well, Jesus. It’s the sheer joy of friendship with him.
God has a part, and we have a part. Our part is to slow down, make space, and surrender to God; his part is to transform us—we simply do not have that power.
Easter: The Season of the Resurrection of Jesus
Easter: The Season of the Resurrection of Jesus
By Wesley Hill
Continuing the Fullness of Time series, my book club very appropriately read Easter this month. It is a short book. Not a devotional, not an academic tome, Easter begins with a very engaging introduction describing a Great Vigil of Easter service Wesley Hill attended at a beautiful cathedral in England twenty years ago. He then moves into the story of the first Easter when Jesus Christ rose from the dead. He documents what he describes with Scripture references from all four Gospels weaving in important information about the context of the accounts.
Next, Hill discusses the liturgy used in Anglican and other churches relating baptism symbolically to the resurrection and the new life believers receive when they decide to follow Jesus. Easter is a movable feast, not occurring on the same calendar day each year. It is a complicated calculation, but Hill does share how to figure it out and the factors on which it is dependent. (Or, like me, you can just look the date up on the Internet or a calendar.)
Hill does not just leave us with a risen Lord. He moves on to how the church liturgy highlights the book of Acts which focuses on Jesus’ disciples. Their world has been turned upside down, but Jesus does not abandon them. When He ascends to be with God the Father in heaven, He leaves instructions for His followers to share the Good News and promises to send a helper, the Holy Spirit, to empower them.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Christian, Religion, Spirituality, Theology
Notes: The Fullness of Time series is edited by Esau McCaulley. It is composed of six stand alone books that can be read in any order: “Each volume in the Fullness of Time series invites readers to engage with the riches of the church year, exploring the traditions, prayers, Scriptures, and rituals of the seasons of the church calendar.” A seventh book is currently in process to complete the series.
Publication: 2025—InterVarsity Press
Memorable Lines:
Mercy for the undeserving is the overriding, hope-awakening theme of Easter.
Prayer, then, is our asking for what we need from the one who has triumphed over the world’s processes of decay and disorientation. We aren’t trapped by the limited options of life as we’ve always known it. Jesus is alive, and he exhales healing vitality, and wholeness into our world. His Spirit is with us.
The Lord is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
What Happens Next: A Traveler’s Guide through the End of this Age
What Happens Next
by Max Lucado
Are you one of the many people tired of the chaos in our times? Are you wondering if we are about to experience the end of this age on Earth? Max Lucado has some answers as he provides a timeline in What Happens Next. His timeline is taken from Biblical prophecies and teachings. He is not going to give you a date for when the world as we know it is going to end because Jesus says in the Bible that only God the Father knows when that will be. Nevertheless, there are many Scriptures that spell out the events of the end times and their sequence. Max shares these to give you a hope, something to look forward to if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior.
Max literally uses a timeline graphic, however, to take you through the steps, clearly and one at a time. Futuristic prophecies are not just found in the book of Revelation where much of the end times is described, but are also in books such as Daniel and Isaiah. About this time last year, I did a study of the book of Revelation using several sources, but I did not come away with as clear an understanding as I did from reading What Happens Next.
Max Lucado has been in the ministry since 1978, and is a prolific author with a very relatable style. His goal is not to scare anyone into Heaven, but he doesn’t shy away from talking about Hell either. There are some controversies among scholars related to end time prophecies. Max explains the various viewpoints on the timing of the rapture, for example. Then he states which he believes is accurate and why. As is typical of Lucado’s writing, he includes anecdotes to tie into the spiritual point he is making, sometimes lightening the lessons and always clarifying them.
If you are a believer in Jesus, this book will give you a fresh appreciation of how much God loves you and certainty about your future. If you are not, you will find answers to questions you have about the end times, God, and how you can have a personal relationship with Him. I strongly recommend What Happens Next.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Nonfiction, Religion and Spirituality, Christian, Theology
Notes: 1. The book ends with “Questions for Reflection” for each chapter including the Big Idea, Application, and a prayer.
2. There is also a six-session Bible study on the end times, with the same title, that can be bought to accompany this book. It is appropriate for group or individual study. It has a workbook and streaming access to professionally created videos with talks presented by Max Lucado who is an excellent speaker. He is not speaking from a pulpit so it feels like a heart to heart conversation.
3. If you want a taste of Max Lucado and this book, I recommend going to YouTube where Max is currently posting on his channel a series called “Fresh Hope.” He has just added the third video.
Publication: 2024—Thomas Nelson (Harper Christian)
Memorable Lines:
God is the God of divine interruptions. Holy surprises. Who could have imagined God living on earth? But he came. Who could’ve imagined God hanging on a cross? But he died. Who could have imagined the empty tomb? But he rose from the dead. He intervenes in mighty and miraculous ways.
He has before.
He will again.
In the meantime keep an eye toward the sky. Live in such a way that Christ will find you faithfully looking for him.
That day is coming. God will put a crown on your head and a hand on your shoulder and bless you…Each child you hugged, he will praise you for it. Every time you forgave, he will praise you for it. Every penny you offered, truth you taught, prayer you prayed, he will praise you for it. He’ll praise you for the day you refused to give in and the season you refused to give up. But most of all, he’ll praise you for saying yes to Jesus.
Epiphany: The Season of Glory
Epiphany: The Season of Glory
by Fleming Rutledge
If you didn’t know anything about Fleming Rutledge before you began her tome on Epiphany, you would certainly quickly ascertain for yourself that she is a theological scholar. One of the first women to be ordained by the Episcopal church, she has spent her life studying the Bible and serving as a priest. As an author she has written many books and is known as an expert on the works of Tolkien. There is no fluff to be found in Epiphany: The Season of Glory.
Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 as the day the Magi brought their gifts to the Christ child, manifesting the glory of God and acknowledging the inclusion of Gentiles in the worship of Jesus. The day in many churches is extended into a season which celebrates other events in which the glory of God is preeminent: the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, the miracle of wine at Cana, and the transfiguration on the mountain top.
This book explains why we celebrate the day and season of Epiphany. It is a deep study which answers many questions for the reader and may well initiate many new questions. It is a work that requires time, careful reading, and thought. As other theological books, there are footnotes at the end. Many are reference sources for ideas and quotes in the book. Rutledge’s footnotes, however, include expansions on the various topics within and enlarge the experience for the reader. They are as interesting and thought provoking as the main body of the book.
Epiphany: The Season of Glory is part of the Fullness of Time Series which seeks to explain the liturgical calendar of many churches such as Anglican, Episcopal, and Lutheran. Many other churches are also finding renewal through experiencing the traditional seasons. As the editor of the series states “We want readers to understand how the church is forming them in the likeness of Christ through the church calendar.” The six books in the series are by different authors and can be read as standalones. This book is more intellectually challenging than the other books in the series, but they are all worthy reads.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Nonfiction, Christian, Religion
Notes: standalone, but part of the Fullness of Time Series
Publication: 2023—InterVarsity Press
Memorable Lines:
There will always be those who do not recognize him, but they will nevertheless be in his sight and have a part in his eternal plan (see Romans 11). The church, however, in its observance of Epiphany, is to take care of its calling, to point to Christ’s glory, and let his glory take care of itself.
Telling stories about Jesus, what he said and what he did, is an essential part of spreading the gospel. But without the doxa, the glory of the only Son from the Father, it is an incomplete gospel.
The season teaches us to value the entire fellowship of believers, because Jesus calls persons to himself without regard to their station, reputation, accreditation, or accomplishments—and we see how we can begin to be transformed by the action of his Hoy Spirit working through the unearned and undeserved gifts that he bestows.
Be of Good Cheer: A Christmas Devotional
Be of Good Cheer: A Christmas Devotional
by Susan Hill
The season of Advent has come and gone on the Christian calendar as we remembered the arrival of Jesus, the King of Kings, who was born, as predicted in the Old Testament, in the little town of Bethlehem. His humble birth was just the beginning of the earthly story of the long awaited Messiah who was both fully God and fully man. He experienced in his perfect body all the things that we experience—grief, joy, pain, love, hunger, disappointment. Then he sacrificed himself on the cross to redeem men from their sins.
Be of Good Cheer is a 40 day devotional that draws the reader to the character of Jesus and focuses on words that are elements of a Christ-filled life. In fact, if you are looking for your “word” for 2025, this could be a resource for inspiration for that project.
This small book is a visual delight with illustrations that are both photographs and paintings. It makes a nice coffee table book that can be read through as an Advent devotional according to each day or picked up by a casual guest to peruse at their leisure. The smooth, heavy weight paper adds touch to the pleasures of holding this book. Each chapter has a one word title followed by a relevant Scripture reference. For example, Chapter 1 is “Cheer” with the verse “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). A short message ends with a suggestion on how to live out the word, how to apply it. This is followed by a brief prayer.
I enjoyed reading each passage. I think this book would make a nice gift for many in 2025.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Nonfiction, Christian, Devotional
Publication: October 1, 2024—Zondervan
Memorable Lines:
From Glory: To give glory to God doesn’t mean to give God something He lacks—it means to proclaim the magnificent glory He already possesses. God’s glory can be defined as all the things that make Him heavenly—His omniscience, omnipotence, and perfect love.
From Miracles: Christmastime is the ideal time to reflect on the reality that God is in the miracle business and routinely accomplishes the impossible. Is there a specific area in your life where you need God to work? Be encouraged that you serve a God who can do all things.
From Kindness: God, thank You for the countless ways You have lavished acts of kindness on me. Help me see the ways You are kind, and lead me to people who need my kindness.
Church of the Good Shepherd–Anglican
December 27, 2024
The Advent candles flicker with the arrival of Christ, the Light of the World.
The Wise Men have been added to the nativity scene in readiness for January 6.
Gloria in Excelsis Deo!
The Watchmaker’s Daughter: the true story of World War II heroine Corrie Ten Boom
The Watchmaker’s Daughter
by Larry Loftis
The Hiding Place, the original popular story of Corrie ten Boom, written with John and Elizabeth Sherrill, was released in 1971 and made into a movie in 1975. Corrie, skilled in watch repairs, and the rest of the ten Boom family saved many Dutch—both Jews and non-Jews—from being sent to prison, concentration camps, and labor camps by German Nazis in World War II.
Although The Hiding Place was a landmark book in telling the story of this remarkable Christian lady, Larry Loftis has gone even further in writing The Watchmaker’s Daughter. His research into the background of the World War II setting of the book sets the reader up to better understand the times culturally and politically and the invasion of Holland. His research includes examining photos and original small books by Corrie ten Boom along with memorabilia that are archived in the Billy Graham Center Archives at Wheaton College. Corrie ten Boom did not keep a diary, but Loftis sought out many other primary sources including journals and letters from survivors who had been hidden in the ten Boom home.
Corrie and her older sister Betsie were interned in Ravensbrück Concentration Camp for their crimes of hiding Jews. There these Christian sisters had a ministry within the barracks, holding secret Bible studies and encouraging the other women to hold strong despite the horrible conditions and continuous threat of execution. Upon release, Corrie began a ministry of traveling internationally with a message of forgiveness and established 3 different centers, one in a transformed concentration camp, to meet the physical and emotional needs of survivors. Betsie had a vision of the centers while they were still in the camp at a time when the fulfillment of her vision seemed impossible. Corrie’s story is an amazing one showcasing the love of God and the power of forgiveness.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Biography, Nonfiction, Christian, History
Notes: Even if you think you know the story of Corrie ten Boom, I encourage you to read this book. Corrie’s story is unforgettable, and her courageous life of dependence on God extended way past the events in Ravensbrück. Loftis’ research and writing along with Corrie’s life and faith make this book remarkable.
Publication: 2023—HarperCollins
Memorable Lines:
This was the hardest part—the hatred. Over ensuing days Corrie tried to be nice to the woman, but to no avail. “She seemed to be entirely devoid of human feeling,” Corrie recalled, “and altogether hard, hostile, and wicked…Why should they always snap and snarl at us? I always greeted them with a pleasant ‘Good morning,’ but everything seemed to glance off their impenetrable armor of hate.”
“My sister died here,” she told Tiny. “She suffered so much. I, too, have suffered. But Jesus is always with us. He did a miracle in taking away all my hatred and bitterness for my enemies.”
For more than fifty years the Beje had been her own hiding place, her refuge. But Ravensbrück had taught her that this magnificent home—with all of its memories—was but a shadow; her true hiding place was Christ.
Surprised by Oxford–an intellectual’s search for meaning
Surprised by Oxford
by Carolyn Weber
Carolyn Weber had quite a culture shock when, as a scholarship student, she transported herself from Western Ontario into the revered halls of Oxford University. In that first year of working on her Master of Philosophy degree, she was introduced to a different system of learning and classes. She was expected to learn for the sake of learning and to pursue academic interests through tutorials—meetings of small groups of students with a professor. Along with tea or sherry, the groups dove into intellectual pursuits that exhilarated this future professor of literature.
Along the way, Weber discovered a diverse group of friends from a variety of backgrounds who challenged each other in the friendly way comrades can have in the pub over a pint at the end of a long day of studying. She discovered a diversity of spiritual beliefs from atheist to Eastern religions, but none kindled in her the desire to investigate like the Christian faith did. The Christian students and professors were not what she expected. No one was standing on street corners thumping a Bible. Instead, when they found she was interested, they encouraged her to actually read the Bible and to attend groups where the writings of C.S. Lewis were discussed.
Through Surprised by Oxford, I learned a lot about the University of Oxford that contradicted the stereotypes that are generally shared in media. It was interesting to watch her personal and intellectual growth, to see her search within herself for spiritual meaning and communication with God. Obviously a lover of literature, Weber begins each chapter with poetry and sprinkles other lines of poetry throughout the book, especially as she and her friends quote poetry to each other in the context of their discussions.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Memoir, Christian
Publication: 2011—Thomas Nelson
Memorable Lines:
I had no real need of believing in men, God incarnate or otherwise. Fathers especially were not to be trusted. They did not even seem relevant really. That much I had learned. That much I brought with me.
“Despair is the greatest sin,” Dr. Nuttham finally responded slowly. “It involves forgetting that God is there. Forgetting that He is good and that all He is and does extends from and works toward this perfect goodness. That doesn’t mean that He allows evil, or creates it, or perpetuates it. That’s our entwinement. Rather, He uses even our evil toward His good. We all need forms of remembering this first great love…writing, reading, creating, being.”
“Jesus brings the most radical message there is into any society at any time: you are beloved; you are worth a price that only the God of the universe could pay.”
The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith
The Prodigal God
by Timothy Keller
You may feel the urge to read that title twice. Wait, you say, the parable in the Bible is commonly referred to as “The Prodigal Son”! One of the meanings of prodigal, however, is “recklessly extravagant,” and that is the kind of love God has for us.
The Prodigal God is a fairly short book that uses Jesus’ parable about a spendthrift son who wastes his inheritance on immoral living to explain the good news of God’s love and salvation. If you are not familiar with the tale, it’s okay because Keller shares the story as told by Luke at the first of his book. As you read it you will be reminded that there are two brothers who both have bad attitudes. The younger brother engages in wild living, but the older brother who exemplifies the religious leaders listening to the parable has an attitude problem as well. These self-righteous scribes and Pharisees try to follow the letter of the law but not the spirit of the law. One of the chapter titles is “The Two Lost Sons.” Neither son shows the respect for the father that would be expected according to the customs of their culture.
This is a great book to read if you are seeking a personal relationship with God. It is also good for those who are already followers of Jesus. I particularly appreciated the examination of the characters’ actions in the light of the time and place where they lived. It made a story I have long been familiar with come alive. Keller compares the feast at the end of the parable with “the great festival of God at the end of history” and explains four ways in which salvation is like a feast. This book will challenge your mind and heart.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Christian, Nonfiction, Religion, Theology
Publication: 2008—Penguin Group
Memorable Lines:
…sin is not just breaking the rules, it is putting yourself in the place of God as Savior, Lord, and Judge just as each son sought to displace the authority of the father in his own life.
…the prerequisite for receiving the grace of God is to know you need it.
We must learn how to repent of the sin under all our other sins and under all our righteousness—the sin of seeking to be our own Savior and Lord. We must admit that we’ve put our ultimate hope and trust in things other than God, and that in both our wrongdoing and right doing we have been seeking to get around God or get control of God in order to get control of those things.
education pathways 