Ever since the end of season one on DVD I have been waiting for the release of season 2 of Downton Abbey. I think every review I read was more negative than positive so I was prepared to be disappointed. Sometimes I regretted having preordered season 2. Then on Thursday evening late season 2 arrived. Now, less than 48 hours later, I am longing for season 3.
I enjoyed the development of the story lines carried over from season one. Trying to tell a story with so many characters is a daunting task. And most probably terribly expensive. I have always regretted only one season of Berkeley Square, a series about the same time in history, with just as huge a cast of characters. Maybe the huge success of Downton Abbey will revive Berkeley Square, just as the Abbey has awakened nostalgia for all things Edwardian, including clothing styles.
I appreciated the softening of some characters and the hardening of others. For me, the process of personal change and cultural change is most interesting. Sybil's enthusiasm, impulsivity, is tempered by hard work over time, and leads her to strong convictions based on her own experience. Edith is rewarded from time to time for her devotion to others, but one still wonders why she is so pliable, so willing to seek a place to belong. Are there people who come into the world incomplete unless they have a place to lavish their love? And Mary; she is strong, aware of her peers and what is expected of her, but even when she takes the road always travelled, she does it in her own way.
In my opinion, the acting during season 2 is better than season one. Yes, there are a couple of places where reality leaves and people sing like in old time movies, but this is a movie of a bye gone era so I think it has the right to not only have historical content but historical style. And although one could say that Downton Abbey is no place to learn history, even the Bible says to tickle the baby's palate with honey to get him or her to eat solid food.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Are they seeking mind control?
Massive media conglomerates are lobbying the government to create shadowy legislation: an Internet lock-down, where Internet users are cut off for no good reason, where vast swaths of the Internet are removed or hidden from view, and where users are locked out of their own services.
A similar scheme in the US led to a huge public outcry forcing Big Media lobbyists to back off from their plan to impose the now-infamous SOPA and PIPA1 legislation.
Now, those lobbyists are turning to Canada through legislation like Bill C-11 and trade agreements called ACTA2 and TPP3. Internet law expert Michael Geist recently revealed that behind-the-scenes, Big Media is pushing for powers that include website blocking4, Internet termination for people that threaten their business interests5, and huge threats for sites that host user-generated content (like YouTube)6 in addition to the digital locks7 already in the Bill.
Taken together, these policies would fundamentally change the Internet, severely limit free expression, and hogtie innovators. This approach is backwards: it suffocates online choice and it’s patently unfair.
Politicians and policymakers have an opportunity to put Canada on the map as a leader in Internet openness and affordability. But they have to know that we’re behind them if they stand up to megacorporate lobbyists.
Tell the Prime Minister and the Industry Minister to say no to the Internet lockdown.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Will the "Real Marriage" Please Stand Up?
Well, Christmas is over, the thank yous are written, general annual meeting reports are handed in, life has settled down to a dull roar. The temperature has crashed and even a bit of snow has fallen. The time to read has arrived. Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications kindly sent me an advanced reader’s copy of Mark and Grace Driscoll’s book, Real Marriage: The Truth about Sex, Friendship, & Life Together.
I will start with the second section first, the one on sex, since I have a feeling this is where many a reader will start. This book is not for the narrowminded or even for those of a certain age and little vocabulary. I am from a family of protected youth–youth raised in a sort of spiritual hothouse protected from all knowledge of the world. And the world includes sex.
I remember when I was 16 when we were left in the care of an aunt and uncle while our mother attended a funeral hundreds of miles away in the state of California. We went to the library and somehow got hold of a book that did not reflect our Sunday school upbringing. We had questions so we asked our aunt.
She did not know the answers so when our uncle got home, she asked him. Well, that was the end of our reading from that book at home. We had to go to the local public library to finish the book, and that tells you that it could not be too dangerous–it was in the juvenile section of a PUBLIC library. If you are the sort of person who relates to this type of upbringing, you will likely require a good dictionary to help you through the sex section.
After reading the sex section twice, I have several observations. First of all, I decided immediately this book was not for children. And since I had grandchildren in the house, I locked the book up. Second, one of my first impressions was that if the Bible did not specifically say “no,” anything was allowed. This opinion is likely not accurate, but I certainly felt that way. Third, although some readers will think this book reads like a breath of fresh air because of the sexual liberation of the second section, I feel the liberties in the sexual realm will be distorted by the distinctly old school ideas in the first section.
The first section of the book covers many of the subjects standard to Christian books on marriage. I will always fail to see how using Esther as an example of respect and submission has anything to do with a Christian marriage in this day and age. Sorry. Esther’s marriage was not a Christian marriage and it was in an age and culture that is completely unhelpful for us today. I did not marry a king. I married a farmer. My husband has no legal authority over me whatsoever. He does not long for any.
The age and culture we live in demands that each of us act as democratic subjects who do not endanger each other in any purposeful way. I am no less responsible than my husband for making sure our yard is free of noxious weeds and old car bodies. My husband is as culpable as myself if the department of health condemns our house for filth. I am just as responsible to earn money for the rent as the man of the house. The woman is not allowed to say to authorities that her husband made her do anything–each of us as adults is accountable for ourselves.
The idea that I should stand quietly and respectfully aside while my husband determines that there is a problem, comes to a decision how to act on the problem, and then directs me how to take action, is not acceptable anymore. Women have brains and in our culture we are expected to use those brains. We are expected to earn money outside the home. This book does not appear to be written with a regular modern couple in mind.
There is a short third section to the book. These 13 ½ pages talk about “reverse engineering” your marriage. In other words, you’re married and now you have to go back and remove the bad or unhelpful aspects and replace them with new patterns of living. This is a good and helpful concept. It was in reading this interesting section that I discovered this book was not really written with my husband and me in mind.
We don’t really need to know the square footage of our house or plan to have a master bath or not. When you step into a home built by others and that home is perfectly livable, you do not rebuild or remodel on a farm. It may not be romantic to put a newborn calf in the basement bathtub, but when it is 57 below freezing, that is what you do, romantic or not. We do not make decisions about how to use people. We make decisions about how to serve people. We talk to each other on the fly in busy seasons and sit next to each other and read or doze through a movie together in slower times. We attend different churches since I am the lay minister of a church across town.
We don’t measure up to most of the ideals in this book. Ephesians 5:33 sums up the Driscoll’s advice: Let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and het the wife see that she reverence her husband. We find it is best if we each love each other and if each of us respects the other. We show respect by not interrupting each other, by putting a new roll of toilet paper on the roller, by remembering to pass on telephone messages and make sure the mail is passed on to the right party.
Respect is not standing quietly to the side gazing up at our man while he speaks. Respect is the wife having her own friends to talk to in the church foyer. The wife is not an appendage of her husband. A wife is the woman of Proverbs 31, a business person with interests of her own. While it is more difficult to operate a family as a democracy, the old husband-centred hierarchical method does not work. The woman is no longer shut in her castle and the children must learn to act in a cooperative and democratic way in a pluralistic society. Women and children are equal in importance to the husband.
My final remark is this. Have you read Tess of the d'Urbervilles? How did you feel about Angel’s reaction to Tess’s confession of a moral indiscretion? Angel forgot his own indiscretions. This is what is known as the “double standard.” Women’s sin is always more damning than the man’s. I feel this book is back in that age. I feel that this book with it’s very old school first section will lead to an unreasonable emphasis on the second section. The third section is out of sync with our home life–our big needs are not in communication technology. Nor is it linked to out-sourcing our laundry. We are in that simple realm of how do we combine being extremely involved grandparents with serving various aspects of our community and when should we retire? On page 216 this question is asked:
4. What three things do you need the most (such as, different
car, gym membership, computer, home office, cell phone, high-
speed wi-fi at home)?
This book just seems to be written for another place. Maybe for other ministers and their wives.
Advanced Reader's Copy of the book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson".
I will start with the second section first, the one on sex, since I have a feeling this is where many a reader will start. This book is not for the narrowminded or even for those of a certain age and little vocabulary. I am from a family of protected youth–youth raised in a sort of spiritual hothouse protected from all knowledge of the world. And the world includes sex.
I remember when I was 16 when we were left in the care of an aunt and uncle while our mother attended a funeral hundreds of miles away in the state of California. We went to the library and somehow got hold of a book that did not reflect our Sunday school upbringing. We had questions so we asked our aunt.
She did not know the answers so when our uncle got home, she asked him. Well, that was the end of our reading from that book at home. We had to go to the local public library to finish the book, and that tells you that it could not be too dangerous–it was in the juvenile section of a PUBLIC library. If you are the sort of person who relates to this type of upbringing, you will likely require a good dictionary to help you through the sex section.
After reading the sex section twice, I have several observations. First of all, I decided immediately this book was not for children. And since I had grandchildren in the house, I locked the book up. Second, one of my first impressions was that if the Bible did not specifically say “no,” anything was allowed. This opinion is likely not accurate, but I certainly felt that way. Third, although some readers will think this book reads like a breath of fresh air because of the sexual liberation of the second section, I feel the liberties in the sexual realm will be distorted by the distinctly old school ideas in the first section.
The first section of the book covers many of the subjects standard to Christian books on marriage. I will always fail to see how using Esther as an example of respect and submission has anything to do with a Christian marriage in this day and age. Sorry. Esther’s marriage was not a Christian marriage and it was in an age and culture that is completely unhelpful for us today. I did not marry a king. I married a farmer. My husband has no legal authority over me whatsoever. He does not long for any.
The age and culture we live in demands that each of us act as democratic subjects who do not endanger each other in any purposeful way. I am no less responsible than my husband for making sure our yard is free of noxious weeds and old car bodies. My husband is as culpable as myself if the department of health condemns our house for filth. I am just as responsible to earn money for the rent as the man of the house. The woman is not allowed to say to authorities that her husband made her do anything–each of us as adults is accountable for ourselves.
The idea that I should stand quietly and respectfully aside while my husband determines that there is a problem, comes to a decision how to act on the problem, and then directs me how to take action, is not acceptable anymore. Women have brains and in our culture we are expected to use those brains. We are expected to earn money outside the home. This book does not appear to be written with a regular modern couple in mind.
There is a short third section to the book. These 13 ½ pages talk about “reverse engineering” your marriage. In other words, you’re married and now you have to go back and remove the bad or unhelpful aspects and replace them with new patterns of living. This is a good and helpful concept. It was in reading this interesting section that I discovered this book was not really written with my husband and me in mind.
We don’t really need to know the square footage of our house or plan to have a master bath or not. When you step into a home built by others and that home is perfectly livable, you do not rebuild or remodel on a farm. It may not be romantic to put a newborn calf in the basement bathtub, but when it is 57 below freezing, that is what you do, romantic or not. We do not make decisions about how to use people. We make decisions about how to serve people. We talk to each other on the fly in busy seasons and sit next to each other and read or doze through a movie together in slower times. We attend different churches since I am the lay minister of a church across town.
We don’t measure up to most of the ideals in this book. Ephesians 5:33 sums up the Driscoll’s advice: Let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and het the wife see that she reverence her husband. We find it is best if we each love each other and if each of us respects the other. We show respect by not interrupting each other, by putting a new roll of toilet paper on the roller, by remembering to pass on telephone messages and make sure the mail is passed on to the right party.
Respect is not standing quietly to the side gazing up at our man while he speaks. Respect is the wife having her own friends to talk to in the church foyer. The wife is not an appendage of her husband. A wife is the woman of Proverbs 31, a business person with interests of her own. While it is more difficult to operate a family as a democracy, the old husband-centred hierarchical method does not work. The woman is no longer shut in her castle and the children must learn to act in a cooperative and democratic way in a pluralistic society. Women and children are equal in importance to the husband.
My final remark is this. Have you read Tess of the d'Urbervilles? How did you feel about Angel’s reaction to Tess’s confession of a moral indiscretion? Angel forgot his own indiscretions. This is what is known as the “double standard.” Women’s sin is always more damning than the man’s. I feel this book is back in that age. I feel that this book with it’s very old school first section will lead to an unreasonable emphasis on the second section. The third section is out of sync with our home life–our big needs are not in communication technology. Nor is it linked to out-sourcing our laundry. We are in that simple realm of how do we combine being extremely involved grandparents with serving various aspects of our community and when should we retire? On page 216 this question is asked:
4. What three things do you need the most (such as, different
car, gym membership, computer, home office, cell phone, high-
speed wi-fi at home)?
This book just seems to be written for another place. Maybe for other ministers and their wives.
Advanced Reader's Copy of the book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson".
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Three Books You Can Still Buy for Christmas
My Favorite Bible
Written by Rondi DeBoer and Christine Tangvald.
Illustrated by Ariel Pang
Bring the Bible alive!
The most treasured stories of the Bible come alive in My Favorite Bible.
Start your little ones on a life-long love of God's word!
This colorful and dynamic gospel-centered Bible storybook guides children through the foundational truths of Scripture. Each story is fully and vividly illustrated and includes a simple narrative with things children ages 4—8 love: repetition, rhythm, and energy, along with a key biblical theme, a key Bible verse, an activity page, and discussion questions.
Adults and children will cherish time together as they grow closer to God.
Rondi DeBoer sold her first series at age fifteen and now has more than 430,000 copies of her books in print. After graduating from WSU in Elementary Education and studying at Multnomah Biblical Seminary, she went on to become a classical Christian teacher. Now she spends her time homeschooling her three daughters and eagerly awaits the arrival of a fourth daughter from China. She and her husband, Brian, live in Washington with their family.
Christine Tangvald has been writing for children for more than 25 years, with nearly 100 titles to her name and almost 3.5 million books in print. After earning her Elementary Education degree, she worked with children for more than 20 years. Her passion is to personalize God and make him real and alive to small children. She lives in Washington with her husband Roald.
Dimensions: 6 x 7.5
Number of pages: 384
The above information on My Favorite Bible, by Rondi DeBoer and Christine Tangvald, illustrated by Ariel Pang, can be found in the press materials supplied by Baker Publishing Group.
As a mother of four and now grandmother of over a dozen children, I have had the opportunity to read many Bible story books to youngsters. I also had Bible story books read to me as a child. As Bible story books go, My Favorite Bible will stand up to the wear and tear usually placed on such books. The binding is well made and will last for years.
This rendition of the old stories is presented in an up to date format. The artwork is modern, the typeset and sentence structure belongs to an age quite a bit later than my own. Since my husband is the favoured story reader around here, I gave him the book to try out. He didn’t like the art. He found it difficult to read. The words are not hard. The arrangement of the words and the punctuation threw him. So, this tells me the Bondi Tangvald team has written a book for the modern parent, the new generation of e mail writers and texters. In between stories there are activities suggested to help parents and children spend time together focussed on spiritual issues while living in the physical world.
Over the years I have watched Bible story books change. My personal favourite is still Egermeier’s. I still give away paperback copies of that old book. Egermeier’s stories are probably best described as paraphrased summaries of the actual stories right out of the oldest English translations. There are no questions, no commentaries, nothing. The artwork is modernized classic.
Bondi and Tangvald have chosen to present the stories as they think the stories should be presented for the age in which we live. Since I attended what can best be described as a liberal seminary , graduating with a master’s degree in theological studies in 2004 when I was 55 years old, I am familiar with students who feel quite free to just throw out whole books of the Bible because they did not care for the author–the books by Paul come to mind. I listened to novel readings of scriptures and was taught that nearly anything could be discounted as an interpolation, something added in by the persons who were the early copiers before the printing press came into being.
Personally I do not think anything is gained by tossing out or explaining away the contradictions and problems in the Bible. Changing the story will not fix the problem. For instance, when Bondi and Tangvald tell the story of the entrance of sin into the world, they must have felt it was unfair for the woman to be blamed, so they just changed the story ever so slightly. On pages 48 and 49 they say:
Do you notice the change? The old problem of Eve being blamed for taking the fruit all by herself first is wiped away. Now what could be wrong with that?
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group"
I Am in Here: The Journey of a Child with Autism Who Cannot Speak but Finds Her Voice
Elizabeth M. Bonker and Virginia G. Breen
Number of pages: 256
I first heard about autism when Peter Gzowski interviewed Donna Williams on CBC Morningside in the early 1990s. Since that time I have been fascinated by autism, its causes, its occasional cures, the determination of many parents to bring their child into the world of spoken language. I Am in Here is a unique telling of one of these stories. Elizabeth is autistic, she does not speak. However Elizabeth writes poetry using a letter board. Her poetry is short, simple, to the point. Elizabeth’s poetry is her voice, her language, her way of making words serve the purpose of communication.
Elizabeth’s mother Virginia writes the day to day story of their life in prose woven around the poetry. Virginia tells of the hours of dedication lived by teachers and aids. She tells of medical attempts to fix body that so far has failed to let Elizabeth speak her words out loud. You won’t believe some of the things these parents try.
This book is not easy reading in some ways. I have had to take it in small does. Very few words carry such a lot of things to think about. Elizabeth has written a little prose blurb to go with each poem. Although Elizabeth is very young, and considered learning disabled, she is thinking and expressing herself in very grown up ways. She is thinking in terms of global need and pain when most girls her age are more concerned with their own complexion.
There are pictures interspersed through out the book and a sedtion of photos at the end. Elizabeth is a lovely, even beautiful young woman. She is still locked inside herself as far as speaking in a physical voice and this isolation pains her and her mother. The frustration causes out bursts and poor social behaviour. But if you have the patience to sit and talk with Elizabeth on her letter board, if you take the time to communicate with Elizabeth as Elizabeth has learned to make use of language in the only way that works for her right now, you will meet a surprising young woman, a young woman well worth knowing, one you will not forget.
The information below is found at http://www.bakerpublishinggroup.com and is copied here for your convenience:
Elizabeth M. Bonker is a thirteen-year-old young lady with autism who cannot yet speak, but who writes deeply revealing poetry, which was featured on PBS's Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. She excels in mainstream public school with an educational aide.
Virginia G. Breen is the mother of three beautiful children, two of whom are profoundly affected by autism. Besides working to heal her children, Virginia is a venture capitalist investing in high-tech companies, and she sits on both corporate and nonprofit boards. Previously she studied computer science at Harvard, business at Columbia, and eastern philosophies in Singapore. She now studies relentlessly at the School of Autism.
Though she cannot speak, Elizabeth Bonker writes poetry that shines a light on the hidden inner world of autism and the world around us. I Am in Here is the spiritual journey of a mother and daughter who refuse to give up hope, who celebrate their victories, and who keep moving forward despite the obstacles. Elizabeth's poetry and her mother's stirring storytelling combine in this inspirational book to proclaim that there is always a reason to take the next step--with hope.
"I Am in Here is at once heartbreaking and powerfully inspirational. Elizabeth and Virginia together find their way down the mystifying corridors of autism and arrive in a place of communication through poignant and memorable poetry. It is a lesson in life, love, determination, and awe."--Tom Brokaw, NBC News
"A powerful reminder that we all face battles in life, and together we can triumph. Elizabeth's story will inspire you to be victorious in your own battle, whatever it may be."--Robert F. Kennedy Jr., environmentalist and founder of Waterkeeper Alliance; author of Crimes Against Nature and Saint Francis of Assisi
"Elizabeth's beautiful poetry clearly shows that some individuals with autism who appear to be low-functioning have real abilities. Elizabeth's first words when she was able to type were 'Agony. I need to talk.'"--Temple Grandin, New York Times bestselling author
"Simply astonishing! Together mother and daughter walk through the bewildering maze of autism and end up producing a heartrending and wonder-filled story. Get this book."--Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline and Streams of Living Water
"Many people underestimate the capacity for learning and growing in children with autism. Elizabeth was determined to communicate and express what she held deep inside. And Virginia never lost hope that her daughter would one day find her voice."--Suzanne Wright, cofounder of Autism Speaks
"Elizabeth is a true inspiration, and her beautiful poetry allows her to share her message so people notice her for who she is and not what people expect her to be."--Jenny McCarthy, president of Generation Rescue and New York Times bestselling author
"A brilliant look inside a brilliant child whose illuminating story will entertain and inform all of us who seek to grasp the dimensions of human intelligence and perseverance."--Sidney M. Baker, MD, founder of Autism360.org and Defeat Autism Now!
"A brilliant reminder that through our work we have the privilege of seeing some of the most profound examples of courage, determination, and the depth of human potential."--Dr. Theodosia Paclawskyj, PhD, BCBA, assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Kennedy Krieger Institute and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group"
Valley of Dreams, by Lauraine Snelling
352 pages
Were you taught not to judge a book by its cover? Well, that is probably true and a good thing to learn, but when it comes to this particular book, I hope you will take time to enjoy the cover. When I first saw Valley of Dreams, the wonderful cover graphics completely captured my attention. There is a tactile appeal with embossed letters: there are stylized flower patterns like you would find on a fine old brocade; there is a photo of an old time wild west show set against a background of rolling hills clothed in autumn aspen. Take time to enjoy the beauty.
Snelling’s book Valley of Dreams is a work of fiction. There are many like me who do not choose to read fiction because we associate fiction with far-fetched. And this book may seem far-fetched. But if you take a few minutes to think, you may see connections with the reality of today. Have you or someone you know been laid off, had your job disappear over night? Well, such a thing happens to Cassie Lockwood and you can look around at the different reactions to the loss of a job. There are those who get drunk and fight. There are others who take stock of what is left, make a plan to reach the future, and then follow the plan.
When you hear that the heroine is travelling in a wagon you may think what a waste of time to read such a book. When is the last time any one I know travelled in a wagon? Well, I know some people who live a few miles away who drove a wagon out of Germany in front of the Russian army in 1945. I also know a woman with three children who lived in her car in the 1990s. I know there are families doing that in recent years also. This is a form of wagoning, except the horses under the hood eat gas not oats, or free roadside grass.
The skills you have learned and practised in one job are sometimes transferable in a different form to your new situation in life. The relationships you have built up with care in a time of plenty can carry you through the hard times. The dreams and hopes of our parents or other ancestors can still be the guides we need today when our lives crash down around us. And it is fun to learn all these things from a story rather than a lecture.
The information below is copied from http://www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Lauraine Snelling, an award-winning author of fifty-plus books with sales of over 2 million copies, also writes for a wide range of magazines and teaches at writers' conferences across the country. She and her husband make their home in Tehachapi, California. Visit www.laurainesnelling.com
WILD WEST WIND is an Exciting New Series from Bestselling Author Lauraine Snelling
When Cassie Lockwood's mother died, Cassie began travelling with her father's Wild West Show. Along the way, she became an amazingly skillful trick rider and sharpshooter, likened by some to the famous Annie Oakley. When her father passed away, she continued to work with the show, having nowhere else to go.
Now Cassie has discovered that "Uncle" Jason, the show's manager, has driven the show into debt, and he's absconded with what little money was left. Devastated, Cassie decides to try to find the hidden valley in the Black Hills of South Dakota where her father had dreamed of setting down roots. She has only one clue. She needs to find three huge stones that look like fingers on a giant hand. With Chief, a Sioux Indian who's been with the act for twenty years, and Micah, the head wrangler, she leaves the show and a bundle of heartache behind and begins a wild and daring adventure.
Will they find the valley before winter closes in on them?
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group"
Written by Rondi DeBoer and Christine Tangvald.
Illustrated by Ariel Pang
Bring the Bible alive!The most treasured stories of the Bible come alive in My Favorite Bible.
Start your little ones on a life-long love of God's word!
This colorful and dynamic gospel-centered Bible storybook guides children through the foundational truths of Scripture. Each story is fully and vividly illustrated and includes a simple narrative with things children ages 4—8 love: repetition, rhythm, and energy, along with a key biblical theme, a key Bible verse, an activity page, and discussion questions.
Adults and children will cherish time together as they grow closer to God.
Rondi DeBoer sold her first series at age fifteen and now has more than 430,000 copies of her books in print. After graduating from WSU in Elementary Education and studying at Multnomah Biblical Seminary, she went on to become a classical Christian teacher. Now she spends her time homeschooling her three daughters and eagerly awaits the arrival of a fourth daughter from China. She and her husband, Brian, live in Washington with their family.
Christine Tangvald has been writing for children for more than 25 years, with nearly 100 titles to her name and almost 3.5 million books in print. After earning her Elementary Education degree, she worked with children for more than 20 years. Her passion is to personalize God and make him real and alive to small children. She lives in Washington with her husband Roald.
Dimensions: 6 x 7.5
Number of pages: 384
The above information on My Favorite Bible, by Rondi DeBoer and Christine Tangvald, illustrated by Ariel Pang, can be found in the press materials supplied by Baker Publishing Group.
As a mother of four and now grandmother of over a dozen children, I have had the opportunity to read many Bible story books to youngsters. I also had Bible story books read to me as a child. As Bible story books go, My Favorite Bible will stand up to the wear and tear usually placed on such books. The binding is well made and will last for years.
This rendition of the old stories is presented in an up to date format. The artwork is modern, the typeset and sentence structure belongs to an age quite a bit later than my own. Since my husband is the favoured story reader around here, I gave him the book to try out. He didn’t like the art. He found it difficult to read. The words are not hard. The arrangement of the words and the punctuation threw him. So, this tells me the Bondi Tangvald team has written a book for the modern parent, the new generation of e mail writers and texters. In between stories there are activities suggested to help parents and children spend time together focussed on spiritual issues while living in the physical world.
Over the years I have watched Bible story books change. My personal favourite is still Egermeier’s. I still give away paperback copies of that old book. Egermeier’s stories are probably best described as paraphrased summaries of the actual stories right out of the oldest English translations. There are no questions, no commentaries, nothing. The artwork is modernized classic.
Bondi and Tangvald have chosen to present the stories as they think the stories should be presented for the age in which we live. Since I attended what can best be described as a liberal seminary , graduating with a master’s degree in theological studies in 2004 when I was 55 years old, I am familiar with students who feel quite free to just throw out whole books of the Bible because they did not care for the author–the books by Paul come to mind. I listened to novel readings of scriptures and was taught that nearly anything could be discounted as an interpolation, something added in by the persons who were the early copiers before the printing press came into being.
Personally I do not think anything is gained by tossing out or explaining away the contradictions and problems in the Bible. Changing the story will not fix the problem. For instance, when Bondi and Tangvald tell the story of the entrance of sin into the world, they must have felt it was unfair for the woman to be blamed, so they just changed the story ever so slightly. On pages 48 and 49 they say:
We can be like God? wondered Adam.
We can be like God? wondered Eve.
To be like God sounded good to Adam and Eve.
When they looked at the beautiful,
sweet, delicious fruit,
Adma and Eve thought they should decided
what is right
what is best
what is true
for themselves.
They decided to disobey God.
And they picked the forbidden fruit.
And they ate the fruit.
And then...
they hid
We can be like God? wondered Eve.
To be like God sounded good to Adam and Eve.
When they looked at the beautiful,
sweet, delicious fruit,
Adma and Eve thought they should decided
what is right
what is best
what is true
for themselves.
They decided to disobey God.
And they picked the forbidden fruit.
And they ate the fruit.
And then...
they hid
Do you notice the change? The old problem of Eve being blamed for taking the fruit all by herself first is wiped away. Now what could be wrong with that?
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group"
I Am in Here: The Journey of a Child with Autism Who Cannot Speak but Finds Her Voice
Elizabeth M. Bonker and Virginia G. Breen
Number of pages: 256
I first heard about autism when Peter Gzowski interviewed Donna Williams on CBC Morningside in the early 1990s. Since that time I have been fascinated by autism, its causes, its occasional cures, the determination of many parents to bring their child into the world of spoken language. I Am in Here is a unique telling of one of these stories. Elizabeth is autistic, she does not speak. However Elizabeth writes poetry using a letter board. Her poetry is short, simple, to the point. Elizabeth’s poetry is her voice, her language, her way of making words serve the purpose of communication.
Elizabeth’s mother Virginia writes the day to day story of their life in prose woven around the poetry. Virginia tells of the hours of dedication lived by teachers and aids. She tells of medical attempts to fix body that so far has failed to let Elizabeth speak her words out loud. You won’t believe some of the things these parents try.
This book is not easy reading in some ways. I have had to take it in small does. Very few words carry such a lot of things to think about. Elizabeth has written a little prose blurb to go with each poem. Although Elizabeth is very young, and considered learning disabled, she is thinking and expressing herself in very grown up ways. She is thinking in terms of global need and pain when most girls her age are more concerned with their own complexion.
There are pictures interspersed through out the book and a sedtion of photos at the end. Elizabeth is a lovely, even beautiful young woman. She is still locked inside herself as far as speaking in a physical voice and this isolation pains her and her mother. The frustration causes out bursts and poor social behaviour. But if you have the patience to sit and talk with Elizabeth on her letter board, if you take the time to communicate with Elizabeth as Elizabeth has learned to make use of language in the only way that works for her right now, you will meet a surprising young woman, a young woman well worth knowing, one you will not forget.
The information below is found at http://www.bakerpublishinggroup.com and is copied here for your convenience:
Elizabeth M. Bonker is a thirteen-year-old young lady with autism who cannot yet speak, but who writes deeply revealing poetry, which was featured on PBS's Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. She excels in mainstream public school with an educational aide.
Virginia G. Breen is the mother of three beautiful children, two of whom are profoundly affected by autism. Besides working to heal her children, Virginia is a venture capitalist investing in high-tech companies, and she sits on both corporate and nonprofit boards. Previously she studied computer science at Harvard, business at Columbia, and eastern philosophies in Singapore. She now studies relentlessly at the School of Autism.
Me
I sometimes fear
That people cannot understand
That I hear.
And I know
That they don't believe I go
To every extreme
To try to express
My need to talk.
If only they could walk
In my shoes
They would share my news:
I am in here.
And trying to speak every day
In some kind of way.
I sometimes fear
That people cannot understand
That I hear.
And I know
That they don't believe I go
To every extreme
To try to express
My need to talk.
If only they could walk
In my shoes
They would share my news:
I am in here.
And trying to speak every day
In some kind of way.
Though she cannot speak, Elizabeth Bonker writes poetry that shines a light on the hidden inner world of autism and the world around us. I Am in Here is the spiritual journey of a mother and daughter who refuse to give up hope, who celebrate their victories, and who keep moving forward despite the obstacles. Elizabeth's poetry and her mother's stirring storytelling combine in this inspirational book to proclaim that there is always a reason to take the next step--with hope.
Endorsements
"I Am in Here is at once heartbreaking and powerfully inspirational. Elizabeth and Virginia together find their way down the mystifying corridors of autism and arrive in a place of communication through poignant and memorable poetry. It is a lesson in life, love, determination, and awe."--Tom Brokaw, NBC News
"A powerful reminder that we all face battles in life, and together we can triumph. Elizabeth's story will inspire you to be victorious in your own battle, whatever it may be."--Robert F. Kennedy Jr., environmentalist and founder of Waterkeeper Alliance; author of Crimes Against Nature and Saint Francis of Assisi
"Elizabeth's beautiful poetry clearly shows that some individuals with autism who appear to be low-functioning have real abilities. Elizabeth's first words when she was able to type were 'Agony. I need to talk.'"--Temple Grandin, New York Times bestselling author
"Simply astonishing! Together mother and daughter walk through the bewildering maze of autism and end up producing a heartrending and wonder-filled story. Get this book."--Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline and Streams of Living Water
"Many people underestimate the capacity for learning and growing in children with autism. Elizabeth was determined to communicate and express what she held deep inside. And Virginia never lost hope that her daughter would one day find her voice."--Suzanne Wright, cofounder of Autism Speaks
"Elizabeth is a true inspiration, and her beautiful poetry allows her to share her message so people notice her for who she is and not what people expect her to be."--Jenny McCarthy, president of Generation Rescue and New York Times bestselling author
"A brilliant look inside a brilliant child whose illuminating story will entertain and inform all of us who seek to grasp the dimensions of human intelligence and perseverance."--Sidney M. Baker, MD, founder of Autism360.org and Defeat Autism Now!
"A brilliant reminder that through our work we have the privilege of seeing some of the most profound examples of courage, determination, and the depth of human potential."--Dr. Theodosia Paclawskyj, PhD, BCBA, assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Kennedy Krieger Institute and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group"
Valley of Dreams, by Lauraine Snelling
352 pages
Were you taught not to judge a book by its cover? Well, that is probably true and a good thing to learn, but when it comes to this particular book, I hope you will take time to enjoy the cover. When I first saw Valley of Dreams, the wonderful cover graphics completely captured my attention. There is a tactile appeal with embossed letters: there are stylized flower patterns like you would find on a fine old brocade; there is a photo of an old time wild west show set against a background of rolling hills clothed in autumn aspen. Take time to enjoy the beauty.Snelling’s book Valley of Dreams is a work of fiction. There are many like me who do not choose to read fiction because we associate fiction with far-fetched. And this book may seem far-fetched. But if you take a few minutes to think, you may see connections with the reality of today. Have you or someone you know been laid off, had your job disappear over night? Well, such a thing happens to Cassie Lockwood and you can look around at the different reactions to the loss of a job. There are those who get drunk and fight. There are others who take stock of what is left, make a plan to reach the future, and then follow the plan.
When you hear that the heroine is travelling in a wagon you may think what a waste of time to read such a book. When is the last time any one I know travelled in a wagon? Well, I know some people who live a few miles away who drove a wagon out of Germany in front of the Russian army in 1945. I also know a woman with three children who lived in her car in the 1990s. I know there are families doing that in recent years also. This is a form of wagoning, except the horses under the hood eat gas not oats, or free roadside grass.
The skills you have learned and practised in one job are sometimes transferable in a different form to your new situation in life. The relationships you have built up with care in a time of plenty can carry you through the hard times. The dreams and hopes of our parents or other ancestors can still be the guides we need today when our lives crash down around us. And it is fun to learn all these things from a story rather than a lecture.
The information below is copied from http://www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Lauraine Snelling, an award-winning author of fifty-plus books with sales of over 2 million copies, also writes for a wide range of magazines and teaches at writers' conferences across the country. She and her husband make their home in Tehachapi, California. Visit www.laurainesnelling.com
WILD WEST WIND is an Exciting New Series from Bestselling Author Lauraine Snelling
When Cassie Lockwood's mother died, Cassie began travelling with her father's Wild West Show. Along the way, she became an amazingly skillful trick rider and sharpshooter, likened by some to the famous Annie Oakley. When her father passed away, she continued to work with the show, having nowhere else to go.
Now Cassie has discovered that "Uncle" Jason, the show's manager, has driven the show into debt, and he's absconded with what little money was left. Devastated, Cassie decides to try to find the hidden valley in the Black Hills of South Dakota where her father had dreamed of setting down roots. She has only one clue. She needs to find three huge stones that look like fingers on a giant hand. With Chief, a Sioux Indian who's been with the act for twenty years, and Micah, the head wrangler, she leaves the show and a bundle of heartache behind and begins a wild and daring adventure.
Will they find the valley before winter closes in on them?
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group"
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Relax and Be Vigilant
The other day I was checking my e mail. I got two e mails that have now become memorable. One was a chain letter thing that asked for a single Christmas recipe to be sent to a single person. And the other was a forwarded Christmas card.
Normally I would not take part in a chain letter–-they rarely work, they make the people who get them annoyed, and in the olden days they were really time consuming. However with computers, internet, and e mail, a chain letter is really very easy to pass on.
It took me about 30 seconds to remember where I had a Christmas recipe stored on my computer; but it really didn’t matter. If I could not remember, no matter. Just go on Google for a minute, type in “Christmas recipe” and a gillion recipes will come up. Choose the first one that interests you. Proceed to cut and paste it into your copy of the chain letter. Then, using your email program’s Blind Carbon Copy feature and your email address book, add as many contacts as you wish. My letter called for twenty recipients, but I learned years ago that one must always invite a minimum of three times what you want, so I added 64 addresses to the BCC header.
That all took less than five minutes. Away went the 64 letters and I sent the one Christmas recipe asked for to the person at the top of the list on the letter I had received and e mailed it away; the whole process was pretty well painless.
When I was finished with the aforesaid task, I enjoyed my forwarded Christmas card several times. Yes, I am a child at heart and like building snowpersons especially if I can do it in complete comfort indoors. Then I thought it would be fun to send my card on to some of my younger grandchildren. So I did the BCC trick again and as I went through my address book I got carried away. I sent that silly card to dozens of people: grandchildren, children, Members of Parliament, pastors, store owners, teachers, anyone. And then I forgot all about it.
Within a very few minutes I began to get the expected complaints about the chain letter. Everyone is super busy and blah blah blah. And then I had to laugh. What I should have done was send the chain letter to my first twenty friends under twenty on Facebook. The real problem for my chain letter recipients is they do not know how to use their modern technology. And because they learned to hate chain letters long ago when chain letters took a lot of hard, boring work, they just automatically didn’t want the thing.
I also began to get lovely thank you letters for my thoughtful Christmas card. These were not even letters where they hit reply and sent it back to say thanks. They took the time to send me a new e mail. Some added several sentences to tell me about their year. None were too busy to play with the card. No one wrote and said please do not send me any more of these, etc etc etc. I am quite sure there were some people who received both letters who played longer with the card than it would have taken them to do the chain letter.
Now I must be very truthful. So far I have received only one recipe in direct response to the chain letter. However, every time I got one of those too busy letters, I wrote and told them not to worry and sent them a recipe just for the fun of it. In response to the free recipe, I got recipes in return.
I want to express my thanks in a special way to the one person who sent me a recipe in response to the actual chain letter. I know you distantly as you know. I am pretty sure I know exactly who sent her chain letter on to you. She is a 41 year-old chip off the old block who did not grow up with computers, but has taken the time to learn. I want to thank you not only for the recipe, but for the love and compassion you have shown her and her family over the years. All the free baby sitting I would have loved to do, but I didn’t live there. The times you have driven them to the airport to go on holidays. The meals you have prepared for them at holidays and when she had cancer. For all the acts of kindness you have done for her and her family over the years, Thank you from the bottom of my heart, that special place where it almost hurts it means so much.
Two letters. Two responses. Some were too busy. Lots of people are too busy for the season. They are so very busy with this and that. Busy shopping. Busy wrapping. Busy cooking and baking and decorating and partying and travelling and you name it. I admire them; but they get so ready for the season, they are worn out. Some of them don’t enjoy it very much. They are over tired and over extended in many ways.
I am so glad there are some who have time to open a forwarded Christmas card and play in the snow with me across the miles. Across the years since we were kids and played for real with each other. And thank you for taking the time to respond–you really made my day.
One of you wrote the following: “Isn't this what Christmas is all about, helping each other? Hope you have an M.C. and a H.N.Y. From your take-the-easy-way card sender. Smile, it's catching!”
I hope your holiday season will be a time of love and refreshment. If you see a stranger who looks alone and needy, don’t forget to smile and take appropriate action. “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And Jesus will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
So when you smile at that needy looking stranger, don’t say "Merry Christmas! Remember Jesus is the reason for the season!” Don’t admonish them to “Stay warm and eat healthy." Find a way to take appropriate action. This will probably not be as easy as it was in years past. You may have to be really creative and get assistance from others to help you. But take the appropriate action, just as you would want some one to do if it were you who were down on your luck. And what if it were Jesus? The last time he came, Jesus came incognito. Jesus has told us the needy are him in disguise. Now what should we do about it?
It took me about 30 seconds to remember where I had a Christmas recipe stored on my computer; but it really didn’t matter. If I could not remember, no matter. Just go on Google for a minute, type in “Christmas recipe” and a gillion recipes will come up. Choose the first one that interests you. Proceed to cut and paste it into your copy of the chain letter. Then, using your email program’s Blind Carbon Copy feature and your email address book, add as many contacts as you wish. My letter called for twenty recipients, but I learned years ago that one must always invite a minimum of three times what you want, so I added 64 addresses to the BCC header.
That all took less than five minutes. Away went the 64 letters and I sent the one Christmas recipe asked for to the person at the top of the list on the letter I had received and e mailed it away; the whole process was pretty well painless.
When I was finished with the aforesaid task, I enjoyed my forwarded Christmas card several times. Yes, I am a child at heart and like building snowpersons especially if I can do it in complete comfort indoors. Then I thought it would be fun to send my card on to some of my younger grandchildren. So I did the BCC trick again and as I went through my address book I got carried away. I sent that silly card to dozens of people: grandchildren, children, Members of Parliament, pastors, store owners, teachers, anyone. And then I forgot all about it.
Within a very few minutes I began to get the expected complaints about the chain letter. Everyone is super busy and blah blah blah. And then I had to laugh. What I should have done was send the chain letter to my first twenty friends under twenty on Facebook. The real problem for my chain letter recipients is they do not know how to use their modern technology. And because they learned to hate chain letters long ago when chain letters took a lot of hard, boring work, they just automatically didn’t want the thing.
I also began to get lovely thank you letters for my thoughtful Christmas card. These were not even letters where they hit reply and sent it back to say thanks. They took the time to send me a new e mail. Some added several sentences to tell me about their year. None were too busy to play with the card. No one wrote and said please do not send me any more of these, etc etc etc. I am quite sure there were some people who received both letters who played longer with the card than it would have taken them to do the chain letter.
Now I must be very truthful. So far I have received only one recipe in direct response to the chain letter. However, every time I got one of those too busy letters, I wrote and told them not to worry and sent them a recipe just for the fun of it. In response to the free recipe, I got recipes in return.
I want to express my thanks in a special way to the one person who sent me a recipe in response to the actual chain letter. I know you distantly as you know. I am pretty sure I know exactly who sent her chain letter on to you. She is a 41 year-old chip off the old block who did not grow up with computers, but has taken the time to learn. I want to thank you not only for the recipe, but for the love and compassion you have shown her and her family over the years. All the free baby sitting I would have loved to do, but I didn’t live there. The times you have driven them to the airport to go on holidays. The meals you have prepared for them at holidays and when she had cancer. For all the acts of kindness you have done for her and her family over the years, Thank you from the bottom of my heart, that special place where it almost hurts it means so much.
Two letters. Two responses. Some were too busy. Lots of people are too busy for the season. They are so very busy with this and that. Busy shopping. Busy wrapping. Busy cooking and baking and decorating and partying and travelling and you name it. I admire them; but they get so ready for the season, they are worn out. Some of them don’t enjoy it very much. They are over tired and over extended in many ways.
I am so glad there are some who have time to open a forwarded Christmas card and play in the snow with me across the miles. Across the years since we were kids and played for real with each other. And thank you for taking the time to respond–you really made my day.
One of you wrote the following: “Isn't this what Christmas is all about, helping each other? Hope you have an M.C. and a H.N.Y. From your take-the-easy-way card sender. Smile, it's catching!”
I hope your holiday season will be a time of love and refreshment. If you see a stranger who looks alone and needy, don’t forget to smile and take appropriate action. “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And Jesus will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
So when you smile at that needy looking stranger, don’t say "Merry Christmas! Remember Jesus is the reason for the season!” Don’t admonish them to “Stay warm and eat healthy." Find a way to take appropriate action. This will probably not be as easy as it was in years past. You may have to be really creative and get assistance from others to help you. But take the appropriate action, just as you would want some one to do if it were you who were down on your luck. And what if it were Jesus? The last time he came, Jesus came incognito. Jesus has told us the needy are him in disguise. Now what should we do about it?
Friday, December 2, 2011
O Lord, My God, How Shall I Call Thee?
As you can see, a whole month got away without an entry here. More funerals, more births, more retirements, more marriages have gone on. And now in the rush up to Christmas, I have a spare moment.
I am trying out a new Bible right now--The Names of God Bible, Ann Spangler, general editor. Being the age I am, I am still most partial to the old 1611 King James translation. The King James Version was poetic, written for outloud reading, metrical, had a cadence. With qualities like that, any new version has a lot of competition. I understand the old version, the words are not strange and meaningless to me.
As with any devotional literature, this new volume, The Names of God Bible, will have to be used repeatedly by me to build up a rapport with it. Some volumes I have were given to me by people I love and so those particular volumes have a head start in the "dear to me" department. Others I purchased for myself after hearing about them from a trusted source. For instance I have a beautiful little volume of blue leather with gilt trim with morning and evening Bible readings for every day of the year. I have used that little book for decades. I have loved Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis for years and years, no matter what binding it is in. Some devotionals have remained ageless, while others serve for a season or two and are laid aside.
The Names of God Bible requires me to look up the names of God as they appear in the text. If I were the person planning this book, I would use the old marginal definition method. However, eventually, I will learn the meanings of the various names of God and be able to appreciate them. I know when I first heard that God was actually called by many different names this was very meaningful to me. Just as we have many pet names for our loved ones, we can have pet names for God. The idea of devotional literature is to build up a loving relationship with a God that can seem very impersonal as creator and sustainer of the universe.
One good point I notice is that The Names of God Bible takes pains to be accurate in fine details. Even though one of my favourite readings in Psalm 46 is no longer there, I do know that my reading never should have been possible at all--it was just artistic carelessness that ever allowed Jerusalem to be referred to as "she" in the first place and then letting myself go so far as allowing that "she" to represent a woman that allowed my reading in the first place. Now the truth is there for all to see--God is looking after a city, God's own city Jerusalem. And I will just have to take comfort in the fact that God cares for us all, even though references to a female person are few and far between.
On the whole, this book it well made to last the rigourous expectations of a Bible's use. Also this volume is somewhat artistic in its colouring and art to help give the taste of timelessness and tradition to a new book whose use is intended to be daily in a devotional frame of mind. For the instruction of those without introduction to the Bible, there are introductions to each book of the Bible. The tone of these introductions is not a dry scholarly approach, but one of friendliness and accessability. There are pages set aside for each of the names of God explaining their meaning, context in the story, and use in calling upon God.
After handling the Bible for several days and trying to treat it like a dear and treasured companion of years, I think I can say that were a reader to treat this volume like a regular book, say a novel, I think it could be done. The book looks like a story and reads easily enough to carry a plot forward with out bogging down in dry sections. There are little sidebars from time to time that draw out an important thought or theme. Everything is orderly and nothing distracting is placed on the pages. General information is placed at the beginning and end of the volume and other information is placed where pertinent to the reader, allowing the feel of a long story rather than a collection of books.
I hope you will go to a book store near you and have a good look at this new Bible and see if it is the one you have been looking for. The Names of God Bible would make a lovely present for any woman over 55 or 60 who likes to take time in her personal devotions. This version is clear enough to be understood by anyone who can read, say a Harry Potter novel. For people who like pretty or artistic things, this is a good gift choice. The Names of God Bible can be purchased in hard cover sturdy study edition, or bound in mahogany or black Duravella, making it really look and feel like a long-loved Bible.
Bible has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Yemen is Still Behind the Veil
I recently read Audra Shelby's Behind the Veils of Yemen. My goal in reading the book was to learn about the lifestyle of Moslem women in Yemen. I wanted to get a feel for the culture and country. And since I was under the impression it is illegal to go to Yemen for the stated purpose of evangelising the populace, I was curious to find out on what pretext the Shelby's were entering the country.
I did not learn overly much about the people of Yemen, men or women. I also did not come away with a feel for the culture or country. I have no more sense now than before about Yemen's geography, or demography, economy or government. I have been under the impression that Yemen was one of those very rich little countries where oil is the basis for strong economy. I knew from the news that some of Yemen's people were trying to bring in a more democratic government, but I wanted to know why their wealth, religion, and form of government were not enough to keep the people satisfied.
The book did not answer any of my questions, even the one about what the Shelby's were supposed to be doing in the country other than being missionaries on language learning assignment. The book had several major themes, such as overcoming health difficulties to get to the field, continuing to overcome health problems while learning the language, and overcoming emotional/spiritual battles concerning the strength of Audra's Christian faith when compared to the strength of her Moslem friend's faith.
Since I was once a member of Audra's religious group, I understand her pain. Once I learned that I was living in a very narrow interpretation of God's Word, the Bible, and that many other intelligent and reliable Christian people held other views, I began to question why it would be that I in my little group would have all the correct answers and everyone else in the world was wrong. I decided to allow for other people being right sometimes and that all were entitled to their opinions and interpretations the same as I was entitled to mine. The truth is that had I been born in Yemen of Yemenese parents who were Moslem and who reared me as a Moslem, I would be Moslem. I would not have somehow just known about God from a western fundamentalist Christian point of view.
Children begin their lives soaking in the culture they are raised in. Of course their faith will be strong in the only way they have learned. Christianity and Islam have many similarities in that they both believe they are the only right way and that their God expects them to convert the rest of the world to their belief system. This belief is going to lead to conflict. Unless we come to an agreement to live in peace in spite of our faith difference, there is going to be war. There is no easy answer to this dilemma. My solution is this. Both Christianity and Islam have many principles and instructions calling for us to love our fellow humans. Both faiths call for moral and kind living. If we would agree to put the stress of our teaching on the principles of living our faith with such enthusiasm and energy that our lives would show forth the praise of God's glory, there would be no need to seek to convert either Moslem or Christian. We would soon be seen to be serving the same God.
There is a line in Steel Magnolias where Dolly Parton says to Daryl Hanna, "God don't care which church you go to as long as you show up." Ms. Hanna has been in a terrific flap to get to her own church to take a casserole for a bereaved family. But the truth is, Ms Hanna can take the casserole to the family without the church. She can take it just because she is a caring human being. Sitting in a particular church is not as important as how you live Monday to Saturday.
Audra's struggles with learning the language, overcoming health problems, over coming spiritual questions turn out to be the substance of the story, which of course did not meet what I wanted to learn about. However, Behind the Veils of Yemen is a compelling read. The book is reasonably well written and edited and has a personal quality. The book is worth reading, but not as a book to learn a lot about Yemen.
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Chosen, a division of Baker Publishing Group".
I did not learn overly much about the people of Yemen, men or women. I also did not come away with a feel for the culture or country. I have no more sense now than before about Yemen's geography, or demography, economy or government. I have been under the impression that Yemen was one of those very rich little countries where oil is the basis for strong economy. I knew from the news that some of Yemen's people were trying to bring in a more democratic government, but I wanted to know why their wealth, religion, and form of government were not enough to keep the people satisfied.
The book did not answer any of my questions, even the one about what the Shelby's were supposed to be doing in the country other than being missionaries on language learning assignment. The book had several major themes, such as overcoming health difficulties to get to the field, continuing to overcome health problems while learning the language, and overcoming emotional/spiritual battles concerning the strength of Audra's Christian faith when compared to the strength of her Moslem friend's faith.
Since I was once a member of Audra's religious group, I understand her pain. Once I learned that I was living in a very narrow interpretation of God's Word, the Bible, and that many other intelligent and reliable Christian people held other views, I began to question why it would be that I in my little group would have all the correct answers and everyone else in the world was wrong. I decided to allow for other people being right sometimes and that all were entitled to their opinions and interpretations the same as I was entitled to mine. The truth is that had I been born in Yemen of Yemenese parents who were Moslem and who reared me as a Moslem, I would be Moslem. I would not have somehow just known about God from a western fundamentalist Christian point of view.
Children begin their lives soaking in the culture they are raised in. Of course their faith will be strong in the only way they have learned. Christianity and Islam have many similarities in that they both believe they are the only right way and that their God expects them to convert the rest of the world to their belief system. This belief is going to lead to conflict. Unless we come to an agreement to live in peace in spite of our faith difference, there is going to be war. There is no easy answer to this dilemma. My solution is this. Both Christianity and Islam have many principles and instructions calling for us to love our fellow humans. Both faiths call for moral and kind living. If we would agree to put the stress of our teaching on the principles of living our faith with such enthusiasm and energy that our lives would show forth the praise of God's glory, there would be no need to seek to convert either Moslem or Christian. We would soon be seen to be serving the same God.
There is a line in Steel Magnolias where Dolly Parton says to Daryl Hanna, "God don't care which church you go to as long as you show up." Ms. Hanna has been in a terrific flap to get to her own church to take a casserole for a bereaved family. But the truth is, Ms Hanna can take the casserole to the family without the church. She can take it just because she is a caring human being. Sitting in a particular church is not as important as how you live Monday to Saturday.
Audra's struggles with learning the language, overcoming health problems, over coming spiritual questions turn out to be the substance of the story, which of course did not meet what I wanted to learn about. However, Behind the Veils of Yemen is a compelling read. The book is reasonably well written and edited and has a personal quality. The book is worth reading, but not as a book to learn a lot about Yemen.
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Chosen, a division of Baker Publishing Group".
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