No comments about Dating Jesus: A Story of Fundamentalism, Feminism, and the American Girl.

4 comments about 10. St. Athanasius: The Life of St. Antony (Ancient Christian Writers).

1. If you are searching for spirituality, this record of Saint Antony's life provides fascinating detail of living daily within the framework of a world ruled by the Prince of the Air. Written within 25 years of the Nicene Creed, this perspective lends to observing the powerful foundation upon which orthodoxy (and heresy) was built, that is, the up-close interaction with both God and His enemies. Thus, his life is not recorded chronologically, but through the narrative telling of encounter

   after encounter. These encounters begin when Antony was left alone in the world with his sister as an early adult. From the very start, Antony's spiritual journey delved into what is now taboo for many Christians: spiritual warfare. Seeking the devil out on his own terms, Antony refused to give into temptation and immediately became a target for attack. The end of his career as a hermit brought forth powerful prayer, wisdom, and - thanks to Life of Antony - considerable fame. Virtually unknown today, Antony remains a largely untapped resource.




2. I was captivated when I first read the Life of St. Antony, most likely written by the staunchly Orthodox church father Athanasius (I say 'probably' because some scholars doubt that Athanasius wrote it, however I noticed many similarities between 'Life of Antony' and 'On the Incarnation'). The book reads like a novel at times, telling of Antony's battles with demons, and his traveling farther into the desert to avoid publicity and temptation. There is also an interesting segment when Antony lives by a mountain and a cool stream, and animals are eating his small amount of grain. He gently grabs the animals and asks them why they bother him when he does not bother them? They returned no more after that. We are also told of Antony's journey into Alexandria after persecutions broke out there. Antony himself desperately wanted to be martyred, but instead he offered encouragement and consolation to those who were going to be killed. One individual whose martyrdom is mentioned is Peter, the Bishop of Alexandria at that time. Near the end of the book, Antony returns again to Alexandria, this time to dispel rumors that he is an Arian (a heretical group of the early 4th century which denied the full divinity of the Son). Athanasius makes it clear that Antony was a Nicaean.

   The rest of the work could be described as a kind of a monastic manual, with particular emphasis on fighting demons. Athanasius records Antony's struggles, and tells his readers how to recognize and fight the devil. Throughout the story, the power of the sign of the cross is stressed, and we are urged to sign our houses and ourselves in order to repel evil. Near the very end, Antony debates various Greek philosophers regarding the Cross and the Incarnation. Antony, despite being uneducated, holds his own with the men, and they leave having learned something.

   Antony is the vehicle for many miracles, but those who sought help are always told to give the glory to God, because Antony himself really did nothing. Antony is the picture of Biblical humility and self-denial. The life of Antony is a powerful example to all Christians. My church history professor said that if you only have time to read one book from the Patristic period, `Life of Antony' should be that book. I couldn't agree more: the Life of Antony is a spiritual classic.




3. A MEANINGFUL SUMMARY OF THE LIFE OF ST. ANTONY. MUCH TO CONTEMPLATE. MUCH TO ADMIRE.



4. One wonders if the work did not leave its readers breathless in the 4th century the way it does today, but given its popularity, I suspect so. The initial shock comes simply from the true details of the story, that a simple man in his thirties withdrew from the normal course of urban life to live a radical, mystical life of encounters with the good and evil sides of the divine.
   
   Anthony withdrew to the desert, living on bread and prayer. There he was attacked and tempted by physical manifestations of demons that did everything from make gold coins materialize in front of him to physically beat him. As a result of his prayer life and unique habits, he came to the attention of the wider public. Two Greek philosophers sought him out and witnessed a possession, to which he replied, "Let's see you cast those out with your syllogisms." Likewise, he received a letter from the Emperor, which he greeted with equal disinterest (though less disdain) as Diogenes.
   
   The only room the work leaves for suspicions is when one considers whether or not Athanasius might have been using it as a polemical tool. Anthony's fervor for Trinitarian theology and opposition to the Arians (of which he has a vision of a take-over of the empire, making one wonder if Athanasius didn't imagine Arians where Anthony was envisioning barbarians) could have been taken straight from Athanasius' theological writings. There are moments where one wonders if Athanasius is reporter or rhetorician.
   
   Nonetheless, that vague suspicion gets lost under the sheer surprise of the story of this cryptic life. There is no doubt that Athanasius and his listeners took the story at face value. To the modern, post-enlightenment writer you must either reject it as mythical as buy into it as historical. And the immediate consequence is that one wonders what one is missing out on. No sermon on fasting could make you want to fast more. No seminar on prayer could make you more likely to do it. Anthony's life does today exactly what it did for the early church: inspire a radical alternative that is mysteriously beyond criticism.

No comments about Paul in Chains.

1 comments about God's Call to Women: Twelve Spiritual Memoirs.

1. Mugridge introduces this 12-chapter collection as personal thoughts and testimony on the Church and the Catholic faith that demonstrates "the unique feminine presence and contribution active today." The authors, Catholics by birth or through conversion, came of age between World War II and the 1980s. They write from many perspectives: marriage, motherhood, widowhood, consecrated life. A number are founders or early members of such groups as the Focolare Movement and Family of America. Several hold doctorates and teach at universities. All have a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother as the model for Catholic femininity, and many express deep admiration for Pope John Paul II and gratitude for his acknowledgement of women's vocation in the Church and the world.
   
   Though their ministries often involve issues that are controversial, even among practicing Catholics, their overriding common message, as Mugridge points out, is one of hope and celebration. And all of the contributors offer inspiration for women working out their salvation in the modern world, as shown in the following examples.
   
   In A Deeper Purpose, Maureen Roach writes, "I am finding my purpose by knowing, loving, and serving God, as his beloved and in my calling to love and serve others as a wife, mother, grandmother, and friend." In God Writes Straight on Crooked Lines, Joy Shiroi writes, "I am happy to be a woman in the Church in these years of change. I think we have a very special job to do, using our feminine gifts--our love, our womanhood--to bring peace to our families, to our friends, and to our parishes."

No comments about A Life That Really Matters: The Story of the John Wesley Great Experiment.

4 comments about War Within and Without: Diaries and Letters of Anne Morrow Lindbergh 1939-1944 (Harvest Book).

1. I really enjoyed this book, as it offers Anne Morrow Lindbergh's perspective on her life and her husband's life during the tumultuous pre-WWII years. Charles Lindbergh took his family to live in England after the trial of Bruno Hauptmann for the kidnapping and murder of Charles and Anne's first son. But even after the trial, the Lindberghs were harassed and they feared for their son, Jon's, safety. In England, for the first time in their married life, they had a home of their own and privacy. They also travelled extensively and this book tells of their impressions of Hitler's Germany, among other places. To read now what Anne and Charles thought of Germany is enlightening, especially when considering Charles Lindbergh's public speeches trying to keep America out of the war. The Lindberghs moved from England to an island off the coast of France for a time and Anne's descriptions of living in such an environment with an infant and unpredictable conditions is fascinating. Anne also writes about many well-known people of the period, such as Alexis Carrel, Lady Astor, Gertrude Stein, Hitler, and others. I would highly recommend this book.



2. War Within and Without is not an easy book to read. It must have been an even more difficult book to publish. Lindbergh gets points for exposing herself and this period in her life to public scrutiny.
   
   This book contains her journals and letters from the period 1939-1944. Although many things happen during this time, the focus of the book is on her husband and his involvement with the isolationist America First Committee. It is by turns painful and almost offensive to read the young Lindbergh as she attempts to defend her husband for his opposition to US war participation. She points out correctly in the introduction that they did not then have the benefit of historical hindsight. Still, it is difficult not to cringe as you read about Charles and his decision to criticize the Jews for pushing the US to enter the war. Anne herself during that period is tarnished by the charge of fascism as she publishes her book The Wave which tries to make sense of the changes in Europe.
   
   These journals are an invaluable historical window into those conflicted pre-war years in the US. The national reluctance to act has now been almost forgotten, and it is a rare person who is willing to admit that they had taken a stance against US participation. I doubt that there are many texts like this one.
   
   Although Lindbergh wrote many books which were not journals, her style of writing is ideally suited to the journal form. Her prose is as lovely here as it is in anything that she ever published. The descriptions of her love for Charles or the death of a beloved family dog ground the political aspect of the book and are powerful enough to bring tears to the eyes. The fact that I so often disagreed with her politically only made her more human-- and ultimately made the book more moving to read.
   
   Highly recommended for virtually any reader interested in history, essays, or journal writing.



3. Lindbergh admits that very little of the source material actually made it to the published diaries. One hopes that now, following her departure, the family will release the unedited, full diaries. Many questions remain--what really happened in the death of her first child? What happened after the published diaries end? How did this educated, wonderful woman really feel about her uneducated, doctrinaire hero-husband? How did she feel about her later affair?
   
   Despite their brevity, the diaries provide satisfying reward to readers, including some humor. Lindbergh complains about not having time to write, which seems odd to the reader who realizes she has a mass of servants taking care of all the daily details.



4. Read the introduction to get the gist of this book. The rest is sometimes painful, sometimes silly, often defensive and always very self-centered. I had to give up and will keep the book as reference, which is where diaries and letters belong.

5 comments about A Tempered Faith: Rediscovering Hope in the Ashes of Loss.

1. I began reading this book not knowing what to expect. I knew Jim for over 30 years before we was taken in the tragedy of 9/11. I only met Jennifer at their wedding 5 years before that. Having known Jim for so long I knew that his bride was a strong willed person. This book is a look into the pain and suffering that many like Jen must be suffering. It also provides a guide that can be followed to find a way out of the darkness and how to rediscover hope and faith. An excellent read!



2. If you have experienced the loss of a loved one from a sudden and untimely death, this is a must read. It would also help someone who wants to understand what this person is going through. You feel her pain and loss. Her anger with God is what many people go though when something tragic happens and the way she finds her way back is through out the book. You feel God reaching out to her and helping her deal with the loss. I lost my husband 10 years ago unexpectedly and reading this brings back all those feelings and helps me feel that I am not alone with these feelings. It renews my faith, that God was and is nearby to help when you think you can't make it any longer. That there is support from the most unexpected sources if you just open your heart to it, ask God to lead you and listen to what he has to say.

   This book also explores the difficulty of losing a loved one and having it flashed before your eyes for the rest of your life. The horror of 9/1l and the Twin Towers will be forever on the news and in everyone's mind. These families will have constant reminders. I can't begin to imagine how difficult this will be. Diana Lee.




3. A Tempered Faith: Rediscovering Hope In The Ashes Of Loss is the personal and articulate testimony of Jennifer Sands, a young widow who lost her husband in the September 11th attacks. Jennifer had to come to grips with the heart-wrenching question: If there is a God, how could He let this happen? A Tempered Faith ably presents an introspective delving into the roots of faith and hope, as well as an affirmation of God's love and learning to carry on and even find joy in the wake of bitter and unexpected grief.



4. Jennifer Sands and her husband truly believe they have found their soul mates when they meet and marry. They share a love of snorkeling and scuba diving, they tease each other as only close spouses can do, and they plan for a future life in the Cayman Islands. On September 11, 2001, the unthinkable happens when Jim is killed in his office on the 105th. floor of the World Trade Center. Jennifer is shocked beyond belief and wallows in pain and denial until the anger breaks through. She rails at God and repeatedly asks him why this had to happen. She has always been a faithful Catholic and has prayed to God daily for her husband's safety. That is the way her life has always been--she prays and God provides. What has happened to the "contract" she has with God? She relates the numbingly painful days which follow Jim's death--the empty holidays and the searing grief. Gradually she begins to see that God is sending her "angels", people of faith who help her faith grow. She is able to establish some special memorials to her husband and she begins to look outward to others and upward to God to find peace. The most revealing part of the book is the diary at the end in which she writes her innermost, unvarnished thoughts and feelings to God. It shows the metamorphosis of a woman who is focused on her own pain to one who accepts and embraces the love and comfort of God. Jennifer is truly polished and refined by the fire of this tragedy and she emerges as an example of Christian faith and forebearance in the face of unspeakable tragedy.



5. I've been wanting to write this review for a few days now. I've been struggling with what to say so that I do justice to this amazing book. Tempered Faith is a wonderful book for people who have lost a loved one, but I'd go farther than that to say that it's a must-read for anyone who thinks about the hard questions (ie, Why does a good God allow these things to happen?).

   I admired Jennifer's honesty and vulnerability in telling her story. She tells us what she was going through and what she was thinking. She shares with us her anger at God after her husband Jim dies in the World Trade Center on 9/11. Each chapter is such a treasure - and as we learn how she manages to get through each day. She tells us what things people say to her that are NOT helpful, as well as what she did find helpful. Anyone dealing with a grieving person would benefit from this book for that reason alone.

   As I came to the end of the book, I felt something was missing. I reread the title "A Tempered Faith, Rediscovering Hope in the Ashes of Loss" and was thinking that the book was a little light on faith part. Then I got to the last section, "A 9/11 Diary". Oh my goodness. This is such an amazing testimony to the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and his ability to work in our lives, drawing us closer to Himself, even in the worst of times. We get to read about every step of the way, how Jennifer grew as a child of God. I felt like I was reading something very personal (and indeed I was!), but I feel privileged to be able to see how God has worked in Jennifer's life.

   The quotes and stories at the beginning of each chapter allow us to get to know Jim Sands better, some are poignant and moving, and some are hilarious. Also, I always apprecite it when a book has a Bibliography of recommended resources - Jennifer lists books, websites and support groups.

   I am a big advocate of journaling, and hopefully many people will decide to keep a record of their spiritual journey after reading "A Tempered Faith".

   God bless you, Jennifer, and thanks so much for sharing your story with us!

5 comments about Upstairs the Peasants Are Revolting: More Family Life in a Farmhouse.

1. This is a great follow up to Ordinary Days, Smuckers 1st book. I read them both in a few weeks, I loved that the 'chapters' were short stories, easy to read alone, so that when I was interupted for a few days from my reading, I could get right back into it. A great gift for a loved one or yourself, the perfect pick-me-up, I laughed out loud!



2. As a busy Mom of all boys, I have (far too often) fallen into my bed at night, simply worn out from the days trials. I keep this book on my nightstand for just such evenings. Smuckers writing is humorous, honest, and warm. It isn't easy to be cheerful and
   encouraging without coming across saccharinly sweet but this author does it, with ease. I like to give this book (or her first, Ordinary Days) to mothers at baby showers, especially. When life is full and your time (or attention!) is short...this book is a little B12 shot of joy.



3. Dorcas Smucker has a refreshing voice, as she describes her gratitude for the crisp bite of an apple, the beauty of daffodils growing freely, the frustrations of a year in which mice seem to multiply out of nowhere, the care she took to choose Christmas gifts that would convey the feeling of being "special, loved, and included, like someone who really mattered."
   
   I especially enjoyed the essays relating to her marriage, her discussion of the give-and-take of the relationship and how the "feeling" of love sometimes comes and goes but the practice of love should remain solid. Or, as she quotes her husband: You'd think we'd have everything figured out after 18 years. God has blessed me with a wife who is committed to making our marriage work, but we are still discovering the mysteries of love and sacrifice and commitment and how they make a relationship work.
   
   Dorcas grew up in the Amish community, but she and her family are now Mennonites and she describes her struggles to make the right decisions. "Is it okay to buy a fast-food meal if it means more time with a friend? If having a garden means I don't have time to teach vacation Bible school, which do I choose? Is making my own food always better than buying it? Am I insisting on doing things the slow and old-fashioned way long after it becomes pointless?"
   
   Ultimately, the question seems to be, "Was it worth it?" and her answer comes through clearly, "Yes, yes, it was."
   
   Likewise, time spent reading this book was worth it. I highly recommend it.



4. Love this book & this author. I can SO relate to her experiences, and I'm jealous I'm not brillant enough to write this stuff myself!
   Especially enjoy the Chapter "Escapes for Mom". You go, girl!



5. I'm giving 5 stars! Dorcas Smucker is an excellent author, honest and optimistic. I appreciate how she has her book set up so that each chapter is different/not necessarily related to the last. This is great for people who aren't total bookworms and don't sit for hours reading at a time. You can just pick up where you left off without worrying about remembering a whole lot of missing pieces of the background of the story. All in all, a very good read! And congratulations, Dorcas!

2 comments about My Sister St. Therese.

1. This book is an absolute "must read" for anyone interested in the spirituality of St. Therese. With the exceptions of "Story of a Soul" and the other writings of the Saint herself (the volumes of letters, poems, and prayers), this book offers the deepest insight into who Therese was and how she lived every moment of her life in complete love with her Lord. Highly recommended.



2. This 1957 translation of Sister Genevieve's memories of St. Therese by the Carmelite sisters of New York is valuable for what the older sister saw and heard of Therese. The tone is pious -- Therese is generally referred to as "the Saint"--a nd a fresh translation would be most valuable. Lovers of Therese will be very happy to learn more about her. If you are not already a lover, start with another book. Be on guard that you are reading Celine's interpretation, which is valid as an interpretation by the "sweet echo of her soul."

5 comments about Joel.

1. I didn't go look for this book, but it found me. What an inspirational story. It is painful to read because it fills with all the pain Joel had to endure after the accident. The part when he asked the nurse to please be gentle gave me goose bumps. The book captured Joel's pain, happiness, faith and his love for life. I adore his parents. Through all 10 fingers or no fingers, their love for Joel never change. Eventhough after the accident, Joel lost his eye browns, but he never lost his vision for life and for God.



2. A must read for everyone! If you have ever asked the question "why?" whether it was you or someone else, get this book. God has used this gifted man in amazing ways throughout his life. I have had the honor and pleasure of meeting this incredibly humble and generous man. Think your life is hard? We all need to take a step back and see the reality of this story and learn from it. Thank you, God for sharing Joel with the world.



3. In Joel, you will come as close as you can to seeing life through the eyes of one who has had more asked of him in any single day of his childhood than most of us endure in a lifetime. This is the story of a determined fighter and frankly a roaring success, told with an endearing humility and honesty. Joel can inspire you to look beyond the outward appearance of any disabled person you encounter, to know each is an individual like you in so many ways inside.
   
   I was Joel's Orthotist/Prosthetist at Burke when he was about 4 to 5 years old. I have never forgotten what an energetic and normal boy he was, always ready to laugh. Sweet and rambunctious. At that time I read Race For Life, by Joel's lovely mother, a book I still cherish. I never stopped wondering how his story went on after they moved away. Today I couldn't put this book down until I got to the last page. I feel amazed and somehow proud of that little boy all grown up.



4. The strength and simplicity of Joel inspire me to live a better life. Different from other personal stories of fabulous people I have read, Joel is someone like us, in a small town and solid family. Great book.



5. Ever since my daughter met Joel at a youth conference this summer, we have been seeking a paperback copy in English. I'm sure the book is wonderful, but no one in our household is able to translate Spanish to English, so it may be a while before we get to experience it firsthand.
   Still looking.....