A Necessary Grief: Essential Tools for Leadership in Bereavement Ministry by Larry J. Michael What are the necessary tools in bereavement ministry and how do we minister well to others dealing with the downtrodden? These questions are at the heart of Larry J. Michael’s new book called A Necessary Grief: Essential Tools for Leadership in Bereavement Ministry . The best part of the book is Larry’s insistence on making clear distinctions between various terminology and offering a holistic view of ministry to those going through loss. In the beginning of the book, Larry helps the reader by differentiating between grief and mourning. Larry writes, “Grief is the inward process that involves our thoughts and feelings after experiencing loss. Mourning is the outward process that involves the expression of our grief. It is often referred to as “grief that has gone public (24).” Mourning is the sign that we see all around us with mo...
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Dead Wake by Erik Larson Whatever Erik Larson writes, I am sure to read it. With his proverbial wit and historical detail, his new book, Dead Wake covers the travels of the Lusitania and the German U-boat that sunk it down. With a careful handling of the events that took place before and after the Lusitania’s plight, Erik gets into the momentous event and the circumstances surrounding the massive Cunard passenger boat. You get a behind the scenes look into the captains, the personalities on the ship, including a book dealer and people of some means. One of the great strengths of the book is Larson’s detailed account of Charles Lauriat, Boston bookseller and collector of rare copies of Dickens and other fine works. We get the sense that Larson was interested not only in the occupation of Lauriat, but his desire to find the most ornate copies of great author’s works and present them to others for sale. For Lauriat, this voyage on the Lusitan...
For the Love of God’s Word by Andreas J. Kostenberger and Richard D. Patterson This abridgement to their Invitation to Biblical Interpretation entitled For the Love of God’s Word is an excellent addition to the ever growing literature on hermeneutics. The focus in the book is outlining how the triad of history, theology, and literature carefully considered help us in our interpretive strategy for each book of the bible. Kostenberger and Patterson at the end of the opening chapter write, “Thus sound interpretation becomes the solid foundation for the application and proclamation of biblical truth to life (23).” Thus, the way toward solid application is in the practice of sound interpretation moving from history, theology, and literature of each biblical book. The second chapter deals with the historical-cultural background of the bible, namely looking at archaeology, cultural customs, and the larger historical milieu that the testaments were writte...
Slow Pilgrims: The Collected Poems by Scott Cairns Having drunk the waters of Idiot Psalms before, this complete collection of Scott’s poems is truly a gem. With all the vigor of a freshly minted monk and the genius of one who has immersed himself in words for a long time, these poems defy my expectations, turn my imagination on its head, and leave me with a sense of awe and wonder. Some poems remain disturbing after the second reading, yet others push you to gaze above. Themes of the human condition, faith, sacraments, and very mundane things permeate these poems, giving the reader something to hand their hats on. One poem in particular certainly changed my expectations of it from beginning to end, this poem is called Laughter. The beginning opens you up to a familiar laughter, Mom’s, and then the laughter turns into the delight a bully has for his beatings. “The whole thing got started While I was listening to my mother, giddy o...
Many books have been written on the Apostles' Creed presently and in the past. Here are a few notable books that have a strong emphasis on the theological, historical, and practical side of the Creed. 1. Rooted: The Apostles' Creed by Raymond F. Cannata and Joshua D. Reitano This book written by two PCA Pastors is a good solid and thoroughly biblical take on the Apostles' Creed. The authors take apart the creed in thirteen chapters dissecting the biblical witness of the peculiar teaching of the Creed and how the elements of the creed point us to greater fullness in Christ. The book's strengths are its continual connection with biblical teaching, its practical emphasis on the Christian life, and the down to earth nature of the book's tone. The weaknesses are a scant interaction with the historical situation in which the creed was written. *Doulos Resources is a publishing company that was started by J.E. Eubanks Jr., and time and time again produces ...