No comments about Illegitimate: How a Loving God Rescued a Son of Polygamy.

2 comments about The Bride: Images of the Church.

1. Dan Berrigan and william Mcnichols have combined thier gifts to bring about this gift . Fr. Mcnichols is a renowned writer of Icons, Fr Daniel Berrigan, poet, prophet priest{though that sounds too easy}. With this eclectic choice of icons{a Zen nun from ireland, a female physician mystic from Europe}, and the poetic text of Fr. Berrigan, this is an excellent meditative tool,lovely to look at,pleasant to hold.Well done by the publisher as well.Another book of awe from one of the sanest men of the 20th century



2. Fr. Daniel Berrigan,poet, Jesuit priest,witness and confessor,has used his considerable poetic gifts in union with Fr. William Hart McNicholas,a renonwned iconagraper.There subjects are varied,to say the least:Padre Pio, Maura O'Halloran,{a Irish American Zen monk Saint},Adreine von speyer,a mystic {closely associated with the former jesuit and theologian du jour, Hans urs von Balthazar},a new Russian Martyr,St. Benedict Joseph Labre and others. What beautiful Icons!Lovely prose-poems accompany each icon,making it quite a useful meditative tool.

1 comments about Meher Baba: The Awakener of the Age.

1. The gist of the fascinating book written by Don Stevens about Meher Baba is that this God-Man, Baba, has come to Awaken us to the New Life rather than just to teach us. I started out with Baba books by reading GOD SPEAKS by Meher Baba, which is a Bible, very, very deep with meticulous colored charts and diagrams. That is Baba's prize book.
   
   I am particularly fascinated by the chapters concerning "God's Whim," explained both in GOD SPEAKS, and then again explained very well by Don Stevens in his biography.
   
   God's Whim is/was to Know Himself in His Own Divinity; and all of creation sprang forth to answer God's question: Who Am I? Thomas Mertin also mentions this question and answer in his book "New Seeds of Contemplation." Each person must answer the question for himself. The question and answer fit together like a hand in a glove.

3 comments about Soul Survivor: A Spiritual Quest Through 40 Days and 40 Nights of Mountain Solitude.

1. Finding his life wanting and following the advise of an old friend the author determines to return to his spiritual routes in the high country of New Zealand. He prepares himself in a beautiful lowland river valley with several days of intense meditation and observation of thoughts.

   Without the intrusion of everyday madness and in the company of only natural entities and by dint of strict discipline he gradually peels back, bit by bit, the cultural mask. He discovers a strong inner voice and rediscovers the voices of angels.

   When he gains the physical and mental strength he begins to scale the mountain.The journey is described from both inner and outer perspectives and strongly reminded me of the books by Carlos Castenada without the peyote.

   The strength of this book is that it is not just another spiritual "how to" rather a simple diary of one mans journey into himself and a fitting reminder to us all in this inreasingly hyped up technological age to make time for ourselves constantly to reconnect both with our spiritual selves and the natural order...




2. I'm not the sort of person who enjoys isolation in a non-urban setting for more than a few hours, so I don't much empathise with Hawker's decision to spend 40 days alone with God and Nature.

   Furthermore, not many of us would have the time, or the spiritual drive, to want to spend 40 days without books, paper, or any other form of distraction. And in Wellington's Tararua Mountain range, to boot! However, his spiritual pilgrimage did touch me deeply.

   Hawker had reached a time in his life when, in spite of having a great family and a successful documentary filmmaking career, he felt hollow inside. He saw himself as the sort of person who needs to work at life full-bore in case others discover how `unlovable' he really is. He enjoyed people, but also delighted in solitude - though as a responsible family man he'd had few opportunities to experience it. The mid-life urging of his soul gave him the motivation not only to go into solitude but also to strive to hear God's voice.

   In the first few days he was forced to stay in one area due to his feet blistering under the unaccustomed weight of an extremely heavy pack, and during that time he discovered some criteria for discerning whether what he was hearing was from God, from his own mind, or from some other source. He lists these criteria in an appendix, and makes no claim that the list is complete, or that he always got it right. (Back in civilization he relies also on other mentors to help him discern.)

   It's interesting to compare his idea of what God was saying to him with the series of books, Conversations With God, by Neale Donald Walsch, in which Walsch's `God' sometimes seems to dismiss traditional spirituality, yet endorses and embraces some new-age ideas. Hawker is more cautious about what he hears, rejoices more when he understands, and revels not only in the extraordinary beauty of nature, but in his deepening relationship with God. And even "God" comes to seem too small a word for the overwhelming greatness he experiences, since not only in one focused moment does he `see' Christ, but he also gains an increasing appreciation of just how enormously he is loved.

   And this being loved isn't just some simple thing: in Chapter 17, Hawker describes how God asked him to describe his life in detail, and nudged him continually, almost provoked him to dig into all sorts of matters and events Hawker had regarded as trivial. In doing so he realised that God is intensely interested in minutist personal components of our lives. Hawker's background is Christian, but his book has the ability to reach beyond the Christian scene, to anyone who feels a mid-life hole in their centre, or is trying to understand the spiritual element of their journey.




3. I know Paul Hawker personally. He is a hypocrite, a liar and a cheat. If these are the type of qualities in a person that you are trusting to tell you how to discern Gods voice then this is the book for you.

5 comments about It's All Downhill From Here: On The Road With Project 86.

1. i read it in 3days. amazing book couldnt stop reading it, for all die hard project86 fans or anyone who wants to laugh



2. I found this to honestly be one of the best books that I have ever read. This is a must-have for any Project 86 fafn, or even any Tooth and Nail Record supporter. Andrew shares some of his deepest feelings as well as some of his most inspiring and touching stories he has to offer. You will find yourself unable to put the book down and find yourself wanting to share with Andrew how you feel for him and how much you appriciate what he does. Being a Project 86 fan, reading this made me love the band even that much more. You will most definitely not be disappointed with this one.



3. Since Project 86 will probably never enjoy mainstream success, this is the closest any fan will ever come to anything resembling a VH1 Behind the Music special on Project 86.
   
   From satirical (and often amusing) commentary, to hilarious tour stories, to heart-breaking situations, lead singer Andrew Schwab must be admired for his honesty, bluntness, and sincerity.
   
   Uncovering his humanity for all to see, Schwab bears it all...even when it makes him look like less than the perfect Christian. Even while reading the book, I found my attitude toward Schwab wavering from excitement to disappointment to compassion. (Causing a reader to go through such an experience is an ability that only a talented writer possesses.) But in the end, I always came back to the realization that we all have growing to do in regards to our character and our relationships with the LORD.
   
   I would recommend this book to anybody who is an avid fan of Project 86. My only major criticism of the book is that it wasn't edited very carefully...there is a plethora of omitted words that occasionally limits smooth reading.
   
   CONSIDER THIS FAIR WARNING: If you have P86 (and especially Schwab) on a pedestal, you may be slightly shocked by what you read.



4. I bought this for my son(17 years old). He is an Andrew Schwab fan, and he requested it for his birthday. He sat down and read the book so quickly. He was laughing and sighing at the same time.
   
   The book is filled with a humorous but realistic look at the life of a band on the road.
   
   My teenager HIGHLY recommends this for everyone!



5. This is a great book. I couldn't put it down. It's a good combination of seriousness and humor. Andrew is a phenominal writer. A must for Project 86 fans.

No comments about Island of Saints.

No comments about Basil of Caesarea (Transformation of the Classical Heritage, 20).

No comments about Life of Saint Paul, The.

3 comments about Moses: A Memoir.

1. Although not a biblical scholar, I was intrigued by Ralph Blumenthal of the New York Times' glorious review of Joel Cohen's interpretation of the inner thoughts of Moses. Unable to discern from the review whether "Moses: A Memoir" was a scholarly work, a novel, or a psychological treatise I was fascinated enough by the concept to put the book on the top of my reading list. Needless to say, as anyone who is fortunate enough to have read the book, it is all three. Mr. Cohen brilliantly weaves biblical passages in and out of stunningly written prose, leaving the bilblical neophyte, such as myself, wanting to go back and re-read the bible, and the biblical scholar with much to ponder and debate. This book is a gem.



2. Although I am not an expert in the field of bible study and while my writing is mostly confined to trade journals, this work provided tremendous insight for me into the inner thoughts of this complex individual who led the Jewish People during a monumental period in their history. No doubt an expert in Bible Studies would also benefit from this structured, well written book. It certainly encouraged me to get my bible off the bookshelf.



3. 
   
   Joel Cohen has written a special book that personalizes Moses and brings him to life. Cohen's account forces the reader to reflect on our everyday challenges and to realize that they are part of life. Cohen weaves historical and biblical context in a very modern treatment of Moses. If you think your pack is heavy, Moses and Cohen make it seem much lighter. Terrific piece of work. This is one author that should consider quitting his day job.

No comments about Folk Like Me: The Read-Aloud Book of Saints.