Grace: a preaching commentary Stephen Farris Abingdon, Nashville 2003; 150pp; £11.99; ISBN 0 687 09046 6 This is the newest addition to The Great Texts series (no details are given of previous volumes). The author, Professor of Homiletics at Vancouver School of Theology, expounds eleven passages of Scripture: three from ‘Paul and his followers’ (Ephesians is considered not to be by Paul), four from the gospels and four from the Old Testament, with the intention of helping them to be preached as illustrating grace. Some of the passages chosen certainly meet the description of ‘great texts’ of grace, like 2 Corinthians 8.9, Ephesians 2.1-10, Jesus and Zacchaeus, and the healing of Naaman. But how many of us would include Cain’s murder of Abel, Jesus and the Syro-Phoenician woman, Psalm 119 or Isaiah 58 in this category? Farris says that “the only justification for selecting the particular texts…lies within the studies themselves” (p.15), but part of his purpose is to show that grace can be preached from texts that appear to be about other issues, like law or justice. He does this with varying degrees of success and has to admit, at times, that grace is not the dominant theme of the text. His interpretation of Jesus’ encounter with the Syro-Phoenician woman in terms of Jesus learning something new is thought-provoking, but what has it to do with grace? The book is written in a readable style and may well help ministers to wrestle with the texts concerned. There is certainly some helpful preaching material here, though no ready-made sermons, but this reviewer is left a little uneasy with a professor of preaching who advocates preaching texts to illustrate a theme which is not dominant - and, in one case, not even present!
John Matthews
New Testament Theology - Communion and Community Philip F Esler SPCK, London 2005; 353pp; £unknown; ISBN 0 281 05758 3 Philip Esler, Professor of Biblical Criticism at the University of St Andrew’s, states in the Introduction that “the motivation for writing this book is his belief that the New Testament is a fundamental resource for the maintenance of the Christian life.” His aim in this book, therefore, is to provide a way of reading the New Testament so as to maximise its impact on living the Christian life today. Pursuant to this, he presents a “model of dialogue between those first Christ-followers … and ourselves”, which would lead to there being a genuine dialogue (‘communion’ is the word he uses) between the writers, readers and hearers of the New Testament documents and ourselves in the twenty-first century. However, for that to become real, for the New Testament to be a useful resource for living Christianly in our modern world, he asserts that we must recognise the huge cultural and temporal divide between us and the first Christ-followers. We must recognise that they were completely different to us, writing and believing in a completely other moral cultural and religious context. If we can do that, then genuine ‘communion’ becomes possible. He takes several chapters to demolish possible objections to this principle of interpretation, before moving on to some sections of the New Testament, from which he can illustrate the model in action. Key to this part of his presentation is a lengthy and very useful discussion about 1 Corinthians, chapters 10-14. Readers of this review would be forgiven for wondering exactly which ivory tower Philip Esler has lived in up to the moment of writing this book, because the model he presents is scarcely different from the efforts taken by all faithful expositors of Scripture to hear accurately what the New Testament writers were saying, how they would have been heard by their first readers and hearers and what were the circumstances which led to their writing as they did. Nevertheless, it is good to read what we do as a normal part of our everyday sermon work being presented and defended in so thorough and scholarly a fashion. This is a very thorough piece of scholarship, encouraging an approach to New Testament theology which is second-nature to expositors, but foreign to far too many church leaders. It would therefore repay reading by all who make it their task to expound the New Testament. However, it is not an easy read, made more difficult by the notes being gathered at the end of the book, and by SPCK adopting US spellings for some words, presumably with an eye to the much larger market-place in the USA.
Alun Brookfield
The Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament George J Brooke SPCK, 2005; 336pp; £20.00; ISBN 0281 05710 9 George Brooke is Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis at Manchester University, and this opus is a collection of academic articles and conference presentations variously published between 1989 and 2003. The original papers were intended for specialist consumption and this is reflected in the technical flavour of the material and the provision of detailed footnotes throughout. A non-specialist reader, once acclimatised to the scholastic style and language, will find much here to stimulate and illuminate a broader appreciation of the relevance of the Dead Sea Scrolls to New Testament and non-canonical literature contemporaneous with the early Christian era. The book does not set out to be an introduction to the scrolls, and is best enjoyed with a comprehensive reference to the extant Qumran texts close at hand. The comprehensive bibliography is helpful in identifying suitable supporting material, and this reviewer made extensive use of the Garcia Martinez translation (Brill, Leiden, 2nd edition, 1996). Many authors seeking to present the Dead Sea Scrolls to a general readership - for example, Eisenman and Wise (The Dead Sea Scrolls Uncovered; Element, 1992) and Thiering (Jesus The Man, Doubleday (1992) - have done so in support of a particular over-arching thesis or personal viewpoint, and it is refreshing that Brooke does not give the impression of such an objective. Inasmuch as the book presents a general theme of linkage between the Qumran material and the New Testament, Brooke seeks to minimise mutual influence. Several of the articles re-iterate that the most that can be firmly supported by evidence is that some individual members of the early Church may have previously been part of the Qumran community or a closely affiliated group. For all the book’s conformance with the aridities of academic rigour, the author betrays a subtle sense of humour. His introductory summary of the past 50 years of scholarship on the Qumran scrolls is punctuated with appropriate section headings, and these are none other than those which would be applied to an account of the phases of occupation of the Qumran site itself as revealed by the archaeology. This synchronicity is not made explicit, but a reader familiar with the history of the site could be permitted a chuckle. An important correspondence is identified in the Hebrew scriptural material referenced both in the Scrolls and in the New Testament, although contrasts in specific uses of such material are highlighted. The point is made that such parallelism does assist understanding of both sets of texts, and the articles present detail of particular instances. Topics examined include the Beatitudes of Matthew’s Gospel and the scroll 4Q525, the Parable of the Vineyard, and the 153 fishes of John 21.11. Interesting deductions are also made about the role of women in the Qumran and the early Christian community. If you are among those who have been put off by the difficult and fragmentary nature of the scrolls themselves, this book will help to draw out some of the most striking correspondences and contrasts with New Testament material, but without leading towards conclusions which are difficult to sustain on the basis of strong direct evidence.
Charles Brewster
Hear and be Wise - Becoming a Preacher and Teacher of Wisdom Alyce M McKenzie Alban Books Ltd, Edinburgh 2004; 208pp; £12.99; ISBN 0 687 05391 9 Have you wondered how you might preach sermons based on passages in Proverbs, Job or Ecclesiastes with reference to the Jesus of the Synoptic Gospels? Are you tolerant of an American context and style of writing? Do you have time and mental agility to dig into the exegetical depths of the biblical concept of ‘wisdom’? Would you like some suggestions of possible sermons on ‘wisdom’? Are you able to cope with an overload of quotations from American preachers? If your answer to these questions is ‘yes’, then this could be a useful book for you. The author brings valuable insights to the oft-neglected biblical theme of wisdom. The theme is examined from four perspectives, which are described as the ‘four pillars of wisdom’. These are: the bended knee (the fear of the Lord), the listening heart, the cool spirit and the subversive voice. Each aspect is explored at length with reference to biblical texts and historical and contextual insights. For each ‘pillar’ there is a chapter containing suggested sermon characteristics, themes, titles and texts. This book is a useful resource, but quite heavy going for busy preachers.
Bridget Jenkinson
The Problem of Evil and the Problem of God D Z Phillips SCM Press, London 2004; xxiv+280pp; £19.99; ISBN 0 334 02966 X While Phillips has written previously in this area, this is his most systematic attempt to discuss the problem of evil, which he says should be done with fear and trembling. He suggests that the problem is inextricably linked to our concept of God, and that the majority of Anglo-American analytic philosophers of religion make a false distinction between the logical problem and the practical (or pastoral) problem of evil. He is not attempting to establish the proper response to the problem of evil, but to point out the confusions that are created by reflecting on the logical problem in isolation. He believes that there will always be more than one response, but sees it as the task of philosophers to point out where conceptual confusion arises. Phillips argues that it is unintelligible to attribute ‘all power’ to God. Indeed, God is not power, but love, and the only power God has is the power of love. God cannot know the future because it is incoherent to see the future as an existing something to be known (p.102). The central issue is how belief in God as Creator informs living human life in God-given freedom, and he recognizes that “creation, understood as involving the gift of freedom, is a creation that involves risk” (p.177). This tightly reasoned volume is difficult to summarize, but while it demands concentration, it is not opaque, and those who make the effort will reap the reward in careful analysis and stimulus to thought. This is an excellent book for ministers (and others) who wish to engage seriously with this issue in an open way and to test a variety of arguments. There are indices of names and subjects and while there is no bibliography, the references in the footnotes (unfortunately placed at the end of each chapter) provide plenty of material for further reading.
John Matthews
Wrestling for Blessing Marilyn McCord Adams Darton, Longman and Todd 2005; 144pp; £10.99; ISBN 0 232 52584 6 This book, by the Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University, comprises eighteen sermons preached to various American congregations, but be warned - or be encouraged - this is no ‘run of the mill’ collection. The Introduction which prefaces the sermons begins by stating that they “were preached for those who find God’s Goodness problematic” (p.8), including survivors of abuse, gays, lesbians and bisexuals, Vietnam veterans and AIDS sufferers, some of whom have suffered at the hands of the church. The Introduction is also valuable for spelling out the author’s approach to the Bible, which is “to break open the text from many angles and eagerly welcome a variety of interpretative tools” (p.19). Rather than expecting her congregations to swallow the Bible whole like “some giant doctrinal pill”, McCord Adams seeks to set their experiences against the biblical texts. For those who have known both horrendous evil and the Goodness of God, she seeks to articulate the gospel “in a different tone of voice” (p.21) by sounding three recurrent themes: an appreciation of the ‘size-gap’ between God and his creatures; that God can turn anything to blessing because in the crucified Christ he identifies with the worst that we can suffer; and utter candour as a strategy for wrestling with God (hence the title of the book). Some of the sermons bear intriguing titles, like ‘Holy Trinity: Divine Comedy’ (based on Exodus 3 and John 3), ‘Fraudulent Forgiveness’ (Matthew 18.21-35) and ‘Gay Pride, Humbled Church’ (Galatians 5.1, 13-25). If you are looking for sermons which you can use as they are, you will (probably) need to look elsewhere, but if you are willing to be stimulated and challenged, there is much food for thought (and also for preaching) here, although it may need to be prepared and served rather differently for your congregation.
John Matthews
Reformation : Europe’s House Divided 1490-1700 Author: Diarmaid Maculloch Allen Lane, 2003; 832pp; £25:00 Hardback; ISBN 0 713 99370 7 Diarmaid Maculloch is Fellow of St Cross College Oxford and Professor of the History of the Church within the University. He is Fellow of the British Academy and of the Royal Historical Society. His religious background lies within the Anglican Communion, coming as he does from a long line of Scottish Episcopalian clergy. He claims not to subscribe to any form of religious dogma and invites the reader to see this as an advantage. Whether the author’s secular confessionalism provides objectivity denied to religious confessionalism readers will need to decide for themselves. The work is divided into three parts, entitled: ‘A Common Culture’; ‘Europe Divided’; and ‘Patterns of Life’. Seventeen chapters and some seven hundred pages are taken to unfold what Professor Maculloch refers to as Reformation and its consequences. The dropping of the definite article from ‘Reformation’ is deliberate and designed to emphasise the fact that the period covered was a time of religious, political and societal change for both Protestants and the Roman Catholic Church. The author teases out the subtle currents within Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism, the Radical Reformers and Reformed Protestantism against the background of a complex and changing political scene. Thus the author seeks to be sensitive to theological convictions and their social and political milieu throughout Europe and North America. It is the determination to take seriously both the theological convictions of people as well as the politics of the age that I particularly appreciated. For example, Professor Maculloch explains to the reader the different views on the Eucharist between Protestants, views that had far reaching implications. He then also describes the various responses of secular authorities to the religious convictions of their populace, which could vary from outright persecution to toleration. The author sustains our interest by explaining technical terms and writing sympathetically and in an interesting way about those individuals who were particularly influential. Here we meet names we may be familiar with such as Erasmus, Luther, Calvin, Ignatius Loyola, Theresa of Avila etc. In the final section, Maculloch reflects on a variety of social issues such as witchcraft, death, sex and family life and how these were affected or not by the various Reformations. The final chapter (Outcomes) offers us a summary of where Europe was left as a consequence of ‘Reformations’ encountered from 1700 to the present day. Here Professor Maculloch touches on War, Toleration, Natural Philosophy, Judaism, and The Enlightenment. In reviewing where the Christian Church finds itself at present, he emphasises the issue of authority, whether that be the authority of the Papacy or the authority of the Bible for Protestantism. Of the latter he writes: “Protestantism is faced with an equally momentous challenge to its assumptions of authority: the increasing acceptance in western societies of homosexual practice and identity as one valid and unremarkable choice among the many open to human beings. This is an issue of biblical authority…. The only alternatives are either to try to cleave to patterns of life and assumptions set out in the Bible, or to say that in this as in much else the Bible is simply wrong.” Not all readers would agree. This book has rightly been described by other more qualified reviewers as magisterial and it is a work that is well worth the investment of both time and money. It is accessible to both historian and non-historian alike because the author seeks to bridge the horizons of the Reformation period with our own and bears in mind the difficulties that people in the modern age may have in understanding the past. Students of the Reformation will find this an invaluable work to be read in toto or for reference purposes. Ministers and clergy will want to read this because it offers a historical context for the modern world as well as highlighting issues that are going to remain relevant to Christian communities as the future unfolds, for example, the debates about the relationship between the Church and the secular powers. At a personal level, having completed a Reformation paper at university 20 years ago, I felt as a result of reading this work I understood the period better. I also felt it offered an opportunity to get up to date with current scholarly thinking. In addition to the text, there is a full set of notes at the back of the book as well as a list of various works on relevant themes that may be turned to for further information. I would have appreciated a full bibliography in addition to the above. A helpful set of illustrations and maps is included.
Charles de Lacy
Befriending the Stranger Jean Vanier Darton, Longman and Todd 2005; 131pp; £8.95; ISBN 0 232 52958 6 Jean Vanier, prophet of the disabled, a witness to the modern world that God’s power is made perfect in weakness, learned through the L’Arche movement (which he founded) about his own capacity for hating. His teacher was Lucien: “The pitch of Lucien’s screaming was piercing… I could sense even hatred rising up within me… it was not only Lucien’s anguish that was difficult to accept, but the revelation of what was in my own heart…. I, who had been called to share my life with the weak, had a power of hatred for a weak person” (p.62 ). So the task for Vanier was to welcome the unwanted stranger who was himself; to learn to live with his own violence, slowly to pray it, until it turned into something else. He had many teachers, including his father, who trusted him, when as a 13 year old French Canadian in war time, he decided he wanted to train for the Royal Navy. There was nothing so life changing as being trusted by one so significant as a father. There were also the survivors of Auschwitz, whom he was waiting to welcome on the Gare d’Orsay in Paris; and the countless disabled people, who have again and again reintroduced him to Jesus over the last forty years. Befriending the Stranger is not a book to be read by one seeking information, or by someone in a hurry, nor will it satisfy quickly, unless the reader travel from the head to the heart. It began as six retreat addresses for members of L’Arche gathered in the Dominican Republic. It weaves Scripture, personal reminiscence and the stories of Vanier’s friends. Perhaps its most arresting Biblical metaphor is from Hosea: “Therefore, behold, I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her….I will give her back her vineyards….and make the valley of Achor a door of hope’ (Hosea 2.14). Vanier’s is a joyful story. The joy is deep because of his evangelical attention to the darkness. In these times (I am writing a week after the 7 July London bombs), there is no living guide whom I would prefer to follow before Vanier. Walter Wink has spoken famously of the Christian inability to face “the continuing darkness in the life of the redeemed.” Those who, like Vanier, stay longest with their own perplexing unknownness will be best placed to befriend the stranger, which is the principal evangelistic task of our time.
Robert Wiggs
Befriending Death James Woodward SPCK, London 2005; 111pp; £8.99; ISBN 0 281 05370 7 We live in what has often been described as a death-denying society. By this we mean people give little thought to one of the few certainties in life. Ignoring death does not mean it will disappear, but it is something that will happen a long way in the future. This slim volume encourages the reader to buck the trend, to befriend death and “open the door of living by engaging with the unknown.” Woodward introduces several major themes briefly, but lack of space prevents adequate discussion and reflection. For example, the subject of breaking bad news seems to cover both the teller and receiver in a few pages. This complex and enormously important subject deserves better handling. Again, there is confusion with the pages covering preparation for death. Here the author tells stories of individuals who are facing the prospect of their own death and finishes with an exercise on “seeing my own death”. This shift in focus requires careful handling as this exercise often raises questions which, from my experience, will require pastoral support and help. Finally, there is a useful section where readers are challenged to think about their funeral, followed by suggestions of what to do when someone we know has died. However, too many issues are covered, with the result we have bullet points rather than detailed discussion. On the positive side, there is useful material which could be used by pastors who wish to help their church members gain confidence in giving meaningful pastoral care to the dying and the bereaved. This is an area where churches often lack the courage to care, and we need books like this so that the needs of the bereaved are met.
Stephen Henwood
Imaging Life After Death Kathleen Fischer SPCK, London 2005; 154pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 281 05717 6 The blurb on the back of this book states that the author “illuminates the mystery of the afterlife in Christian and non-Christian traditions in this probing, eloquent and reassuring meditation drawn from many sources: religion, literature, science, psychology, and personal and professional experiences”. Readers will find some sections helpful, but other parts seem to be at variance to Christian belief. Yet the book helps us to look at some issues that are important for the bereaved. Fischer poses the question “Do Relationships Continue Beyond Death?” This is something I have often been asked and we need to be careful how we respond. Dismissal of this concept or uncritical acceptance of everything we are told is not helpful. The author does not present us with answers, but she makes us think about our assumptions and prejudices. Valuable issues are included, and those supporting the bereaved will hear the thoughts of people they know permeating the pages. A useful reference tool.
Stephen Henwood
Encounters Metropolitan Anthony (translated by Tatiana Wolff) Darton Longman and Todd 2005; xii+307pp; £9.95; ISBN: 0 232 52600 1 I remember Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh in two contrasting contexts when he was head of the Russian Patriarchal Diocese in Great Britain. One was in receiving Holy Communion from him and the other was engaging in some informal conversations, both at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in London. He was humble and transparent in both settings, enabling me to engage in a deeply personal relationship with him, with myself and, above all, with God. It is a joy then that, after Anthony’s death in August 2003, we are still able to learn so much from his experiences and teaching through such books as Encounters. This latest book is another collection of largely unpublished talks and interviews (translated by Tatiana Wolff) given by the archbishop over the past forty years. Fresh and timeless as when they were first written, these fifteen pieces are an inspiration to us all. Bishop Basil of Sergievo, the current leader of the Russian Orthodox Church in Great Britain, gives a brief introduction to Anthony and the Diocese of Sourozh, placing these writings in their historical context. The book includes an autobiographical account of the Metropolitan’s early life and awareness of God alongside other aspects of encounter including Church and State, Church and Society, and spirituality and pastoral care. Part of the joy of reading Metropolitan Anthony’s writings is his gift of expressing profound truths in an accessible and memorable manner, which was a vital part of his own personality.
Pachomios Penkett
Running into God, Reflections for Ordinary Days Dave Tomlinson SPCK London 2004; 111pp; £8.99; ISBN 0 281 05695 1 Many years ago I was an occasional attender at Saltersgill Fellowship in Middlesbrough. Its charismatic leader was Dave Tomlinson whose journey from the House Church movement has already been well documented. Now Vicar of St Luke’s Church in Holloway, North London, he has presented a volume of reflections based on talks given at this church. Some were given on the special Sundays of the liturgical year, but many are homilies given on ordinary days. Dave Tomlinson likes special days, but he appreciates the ordinary, realising this gives focus and meaning to the routine nature of life. Those who preach regularly will appreciate the crafting of each talk. Introductions are important and there are some very good ones here. Knowing when to stop is equally important and Tomlinson shows how simple and effective one can be. Again, illustrations lighten up any talk and there are many good ones here. This is not a handbook on preaching, and the real benefit in reading will be refreshment and stimulation in the faith. This is a good book.
Stephen Henwood
With Unveiled Face: A Pastoral and Theological Exploration of Shame Paul Goodliff Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2005; 149pp; £9.95; ISBN 0 232 52574 9 Paul Goodliff has a wealth of experience in ministry and counselling which he brings to bear on the sensitive subject of ‘shame’. He does this with a pastor’s heart and a depth of spiritual and theological insight. The author helpfully differentiates between the protective and destructive aspects of shame - protective being discretion (e.g. behaving appropriately, wearing suitable clothing for an occasion), destructive being unhealthy inhibition (e.g. preventing openness in deep relationships and possibly leading to self-harm or worse). Using vivid illustrations drawn from his pastoral and counselling ministries (with due regard to confidentiality), Goodliff encourages readers into the realisations of the importance of nurturing experiences in early life and the trends in present-day society that induce destructive shame. These are set against an awareness of an increasing lack of protective shame. Into this context he expounds the revolutionary way Jesus responded to people who were ‘shamed’ by the society or religious leaders of His day. The writer opens up ways for Christian leaders to develop their own self-awareness in these areas and move towards healing in Jesus Christ. He also suggests practices that could help in pastoral care, church and family life. This book makes compelling reading. It is demanding, not so much academically, but spiritually and emotionally if readers engage seriously with the issues raised. It is a timely, invaluable resource for all who work in pastoral care.
Bridget Jenkinson
On Christian Dying - Classic and Contemporary Texts Matthew Levering (edited) Rowman and Littlefield, Maryland 2004; 136pp; £42.00; ISBN 0 7425 3465 0 This book does exactly ‘what it says on the tin’. Matthew Levering is assistant professor of theology at Ave Maria College. He has gathered together original texts from sixteen Christian teachers, including (among others) Ignatius of Antioch, Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas and John Henry Newman. The aim is to encourage us to learn from others about the art of Christian dying. My disappointments with this book are threefold. First, why does the author’s modern era stop with St Therese of Lisieux who died in 1897? What about the 20th century? Surely Henri Nouwen and others have written significantly on the subject and their contributions are worth including? Second, while it is useful to bring texts together from available publications, this book is expensive. Finally, and most seriously, this book needs a conclusion. What do we make of centuries of contemplation on dying? What common threads and disagreements do we find, and cumulatively what do they say to ordinary Christian believers today? Without these insights this book will surely have a very limited market.
Stephen Henwood
Living Faith - Exploring the Essentials of Christianity (DVD) Tom Wright SPCK, London, 2005; 10x25 min. sessions; £60.00; ISBN 82 8188 891 1
Living Faith - Exploring the Essentials of Christianity (Study Guide) John Schwarz SPCK, London, 2005; 64pp; £4.99; ISBN 0 281 05734 6 This DVD is a ten-part course dealing with basic aspects of the Christian faith. Disc 1 covers matters relating to the Bible - its overall story and message, the value of the Old Testament, the social context of Jesus’ ministry, the Gospels and the spread of first century Christianity. Disc 2 covers the history of Christianity, Christian doctrines, other religions and discipleship today. The format features Tom Wright presenting facts in an accessible way with two American conversation partners who mainly listen, then ask a few questions. The presentation does not make good use of the medium - there are no visual aids used. The viewer is simply another companion around the table. Tom Wright’s approach is clear, concise, enthusiastic and sincere. The accompanying study guide is a ‘dip-in’ resource, not a ‘cover-to-cover’ read. It is a compendium of essential facts supporting or explaining the DVD presentations, and also a useful backup for a group leader or for an individual wanting to use the DVD for personal development. The DVD and Study Guide require high levels of concentration, fluency in the English language and intellectual ability. There needs to be a willingness to embrace the academic nature of the production. They could be resources for would-be students, Christian leaders looking to brush up on basics, and academically-able Christians wanting to explore the faith in depth.
Bridget Jenkinson
Intercessory Prayer: Modern Theology, Biblical Teaching and Philosophical Thought Philip Clements-Jewery Ashgate Publishing Ltd, Aldershot, 2005; 158pp; £40; ISBN 0 7546 3828 6 Over the years Philip Clements-Jewery, currently minister of North Road Baptist Church, Huddersfield, has contributed a number of articles to Ministry Today, and has also been a regular reviewer. It is therefore very gratifying to be able to welcome his first book. And what a great book it is! It will certainly become one of the standard texts on prayer. Although the material first saw light of day as a Manchester University PhD, it has been written into a very absorbing and accessible book. The author addresses five questions in particular: ‘What does the New Testament teach us about prayer?’; ‘Why is it necessary to pray?’; ‘Is God capable of answering prayer?’; ‘How does God work in the world?’; and ‘How does prayer ‘work’?’ In a most illuminating and helpful manner, the thinking of theologians and philosophers is unpacked, leading to the conclusion that prayer is not an exercise in personal therapy. Rather it is the means by which “God enlists the freely given cooperation of human beings in the realization of the divine purposes. It gets certain things done in a way that might not have been fully possible had the prayer not been made. This is because intercessory prayer, as a personal partnership between God, the one who prays, and ideally, the prayed-for, reinforces the personal nature of the universe, aiming at producing more fully personal human beings in communion with one another and with God”. As can be seen from this quotation, the book is written with great care, and many a sentence deserves being pondered upon. My one concern is the price, for this is a book which should be in the hands of every minister, especially those about to preach a series of sermons on prayer.
Paul Beasley-Murray
Unofficial God Brian Castle SPCK 2004; x+164pp; £13.99; ISBN 0 281 05392 8 In this book, subtitled Voices Beyond the Walls, the author, who is Bishop of Tonbridge, acknowledges a variety of contemporary movements, including cell churches, dialogue with other faiths and new forms of monasticism, as some examples of God’s vitality outside the walls of traditional Christianity and the Church. He recognizes that traditionally ‘inside’ means ‘pure’ and ‘outside’ means ‘impure’, but suggests that this too easily polarized categorization is challenged by the death, and also the ascension, of Christ. The book includes some fascinating material on African theology, which is not so much systematic and verbal as expressed in singing and dancing, and on Korean ‘minjung’ theology, which is little known in the west. An interesting chapter on folk religion, which, it is suggested, focuses on God rather than Christ, ends with the need for the church to discuss with those beyond the walls the role of Christ, but instead of pursuing this further the next chapter (which seems completely out of place in the book) is about hymns! There is a brief attempt to show that rock music addresses issues of identity and even faith, but a two-page discussion of one album by Oasis from 1995 and another by the Manic Street Preachers from 1998 scarcely scratches the surface. What about Radiohead when it comes to the identity question and U2 as a band whose songs express faith? There are some challenging sentences, such as the reference to “a church that is anxious to keep people happy rather than make them holy” (p.14), and some thought-provoking questions, such as: “how far can one contextualize without losing the heart of the gospel?” (p.50). All in all, this is a readable book, with some new material, that would stimulate discussion at a ministers’ meeting or reading group.
John Matthews
The Sacred Neuron: Extraordinary new discoveries linking science and religion John Bowker I B Tauris, London 2005; £17.95; ISBN I began reading this book with high expectations because it promised a new angle on questions that are absolutely fundamental to human life, and which have become particularly problematic in a post-modern context. These questions are about whether or not there are any objective grounds for ethical, aesthetic and religious judgements. Why do we consider some things good and others bad - is it simply a matter of cultural and social convention? Why do we consider some things beautiful and others ugly - is beauty simply ‘in the eye of the beholder’ and varying from one person to the next in no predictable way? Is there any court of appeal to which we can subject the claims of any given religion? Bowker’s book emerged from lectures given under the name of Hensley Henson, Bishop of Durham in the early twentieth century. It sits within the tradition of Henson’s basic belief in the importance of providing clear and rational arguments for the validity of religious claims. Its central thesis is that recent developments in neuroscience have led to a reassessment of some older and more pessimistic views about the possibility of making objective judgements in the areas of morality, aesthetics and religion. These older views begin with the philosophy of David Hume in the 18th century, and move through anthropological insights concerning cultural relativity in the 19th century, to the ideas of Derrida on deconstruction in the 20th century. The cumulative effect of such powerful critiques has been a common view that issues of religion, ethics and aesthetics are primarily subjective matters of private opinion and individual preference rather than matters of truth in any objective sense. Bowker argues that new findings in neuroscience have led to a view of human cognition in which rational and emotional responses should be seen as an integrated whole working in a similar way across different cultures because of the way our brains function. Certain situations or objects have what Bowker calls “conducive properties” which lead to recognisably similar responses in many different contexts. My initial high expectations were not to be fully met for three main reasons. First, there was not enough explanation and background to the neuroscience (including the definition of the key term “conducive property”). Second, Bowker is so widely read that he succumbs to the temptation of including far too many long quotes, some of which are rather oblique to the central thesis and break the flow of his argument. Third, the final chapter on religion seems to wander from the main neuroscientific analysis to a more sociological one which describes a ‘new crisis’ facing religions due to the fact that they are no longer needed in the same way as before for the purpose of transmitting culture. Nevertheless, the book investigates a vital and fascinating area from a creative and new angle and is worth reading just for that. It contains a wealth of insights and ideas with which any thinking person will want to engage.
Richard Cheetham
Dawkins’ God: Genes, Memes, and the Meaning of Life Alister McGrath Blackwell Publishing,2005; 202pp; £9.99; ISBN 1 4051 2538 3 Alister McGrath is a theologian who began his academic life with research in molecular biophysics. He brings a well-informed and clear mind to this important contribution to the continuing debate between science and religion. Alister is Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford University. He describes his own journey from atheism to faith and is therefore well placed to contribute this thoughtful review of Dawkins’ writings. As the author states, this book is not a religious rebuttal of Dawkins, but seeks to encourage “an exploration of the place of the natural sciences in shaping the world of our minds and the culture in which we live, based on Dawkins’ published writings”. The chapter on ‘proof and faith’ I found particularly helpful. Here we have a useful contribution to the discussions about science and Christian belief. The book is very readable and does not require a detailed knowledge of the scientific ideas engaged. It does encourage us to debate ‘graciously and accurately’ and to listen to each other without closed minds. There is plenty of further reading and I recommend this book to anyone searching for meaning in life or well placed to encourage this search in others.
Colin Selby
Relative Grief Clare Jenkins and Judy Merry Jessica Kingsley, London 2005; 201pp; £12.95; ISBN 1 84310 257 9 This is a very powerful book and readers will find it difficult to read more than a few pages at one time. Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern day hospice movement, commented that our patients are our best teachers. Here, the bereaved talk about their experiences. We learn from parents and children, sisters and brothers, husbands, wives and partners, grandparents and grandchildren. Some experienced sudden, violent and tragic bereavement, while others witnessed their loved ones going through a long and difficult illness where death came as a release. Each death is unique. Bereavement is personal and full of surprises, some bringing comfort and others very disturbing. Only the bereaved can work through all the complexities of their grief. What is also clear from this volume is the aspect of commonality in bereavement. Feeling angry, cheated, the need to visit places where death occurred, and the multitude of feelings which often emerge particularly at times of anniversary, are all captured in this volume. The reader is left with no doubt how painful bereavement is for all concerned. I am sure I will refer to this book often. At present some of the stories are too painful for me to read in depth, but things will change. This book would be beneficial for all those engaged in ministry where contact with bereaved people is regularly experienced. It will help those engaged in training bereavement support workers to focus on real stories rather than amalgam of cases which are never very satisfying. It does need to be remembered that while death is the hardest of all grief to bear, our churches are full of people who have experienced many losses and they, too, need pastoral care.
Stephen Henwood
Short Notes (Paul Beasley-Murray with Alun Brookfield) Katharine and Richard Hill have written a very useful guide called Rules of Engagement: How to Plan a Successful Wedding, How to Build a Marriage that Lasts Lion/Care for the Family, 2005; 140pp; £6.99; ISBN 0 7459 4886 3). Thankfully, the book is more concise than the title! It’s an excellent guide to exactly what the title says, and contains a wealth of practical advice for couples pre-marriage, post-marriage and for the rest of their lives together. A perfect book to give to engaged couples. Buy 10 copies and lend them, but don’t expect to get them back! Lion have published two guides to the world’s religions. The New Lion Handbook of the World’s Religions (Oxford, 2005; 495pp; £25; ISBN 0 7459 5128 7) is an excellent and thorough coverage of all the major faiths, along with articles exploring the nature of religion, and shorter looks at the less numerous beliefs. This is a fine reference book, but if you’re looking for something which will take you into more modern religions, then A Pocket Guide to Sects and New Religions (Lion, Oxford 2005; 254pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 7459 5159 7) may suit your needs rather better. Both are worth having on your shelves. Love: 100 readings in celebration of marriage and love (Canterbury Press, Norwich 2005; 112pp; £9.99; ISBN 1 85311 600 9) compiled by Robert Atwell, is a most useful pastoral resource. As the author states in his introduction: “The readings can stand alone and be used at weddings, engagement parties, the renewal of vows, and family celebrations, or be used privately for personal reflection”. Buy a copy with your next wedding fee! Help, I’m a Pastor: a guide to parish ministry (Westminster John Knox, Louisville, Kentucky 2005; 216pp; £10.99; ISBN 0 664 22895 X; available in the UK through SPCK), by Princeton Theological Seminary professor Richard Stoll Armstrong and Presbyterian pastor Kirk Walter Morledge, is essentially a basic guide for people studying for the ministry. Although written within the American scene, much is of relevance to the British scene too. Mainline churches in the USA are in major decline, but is the decline terminal? In Chasing Down a Rumour: the death of mainline denominations (Augsburg Books, Minneapolis 2005; 192pp; £8.99; ISBN 0 8066 5142 3; available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), Robert Bacher and Kenneth Inskeep, both denominational employees of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, argue that the decline has been exaggerated. A somewhat specialist book, this carefully argued book has little relevance to the British scene. Consuming Passion: Why the killing of Jesus really matters (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2005; 136pp; £10.95; ISBN 0 232 52607) edited by Simon Barrow and Jonathan Bartley, consists of twelve essays challenging the interpretation of the cross as evidenced in much evangelical and catholic teaching. In particular the substitutionary doctrine of the atonement comes in for much stick, as does Mel Gibson’s film, ‘The Passion of the Christ’. Sadly, not one of this somewhat repetitive collection of essays actually wrestled with the multi-faceted New Testament teaching of the atonement. When Children Became People: The birth of childhood in early Christianity (Fortress Press, Minneapolis 2005; 348pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 8006 3725 9.; available in the UK through Alban of Edinburgh) by Norwegian scholar O M Bakke is a real work of erudition. Subjects covered include ‘Children in the Greco-Roman world’; ‘Patristic teaching about the nature of children’; ‘Abortion, infanticide and sexual relations between children and adults’; the Christian ‘Upbringing and education of children’; ‘Children’s participation in worship’; and ‘Children and a life of religious perfection’. Readers of Ministry Today will, however, be disappointed that no attempt is made to relate the ancient world to the world of today. The Dominance of Evangelicalism: The Age of Spurgeon and Moody (IVP, Leicester 2005; 284pp; £16.95 hardback; ISBN 1 84474 070 6) by David W Bebbington, Professor of History at the University of Stirling, is an extraordinarily well-written and lively account of evangelicalism between the 1850s and 1890s. As someone with long-term associations with the College founded by Spurgeon, I particularly appreciated this account of the great Victorian Baptist preacher. This is a book to warm the heart, as well as to stretch the mind. Ministers contemplating preaching a sermon series on the Ten Commandments would do well to get hold of I Am The Lord Your God: Christian Reflections on the Ten Commandments (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan 2005; 287pp; £13.99; ISBN 0 8028 2812 4; available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh) edited by Carl E Braaten and Christopher R Seitz. It is a collection of fourteen essays by leading American ethicists, which in varying ways set out to relate the Ten Commandments to today’s world. The Passionate Church: The Art of Life-Changing Discipleship (Nexgen-Kingsway, Eastbourne 2005; 240pp; £7.99; ISBN 1 84291 239 9) by Mike Breen, the former rector of St Thomas’ Sheffield and now on the staff of Fuller Theological Seminary, and Walt Kallestad, an American mega-church pastor, seeks to encourage church growth through an unusual programme of what they describe as ‘life-shapes’. Although both writers have led their churches to remarkable growth, I am unconvinced of the pattern they offer: it is simplistic, programmatic, and at times untrue to my understanding of Scripture. Sobering reading on the future of the Christian church in Britain is provided by two books from Blackwells of Oxford. The darkest picture is painted by Steve Bruce, Professor of Sociology in the University of Aberdeen, who, in God is Dead: Secularization in the West (2002; 269pp; £16.99; ISBN 0 631 231275 3), anticipates that the Methodist Church will fold around 2031, and that the Church of England will by then be reduced to “a trivial voluntary association with a large portfolio of heritage property”, and that “regular churchgoers will be too few to show up in representative national survey samples”. As for the charismatic movement, he argues that it has been “the route by which many previously evangelical Protestants have become increasingly liberal and denominational”, and in fact that it does not refute secularization, but rather “shows how it works”! A slightly more hopeful picture is painted by Paul Heelas and Linda Woodhead, together with Benjamin Seel, Bronislaw Szerszynski and Karin Tustin, who, in The Spiritual Revolution: Why Religion is Giving Way to Spirituality (2005; 204pp; £15.99; ISBN 1 4051 1959 4), reflect on their findings of a major sociological research project conducted in Kendal. If Kendal is, as they argue, typical of Britain as a whole, then by around 2030 church attendance will have shrunk to 3% of the population, with a further 3% interested in ‘subjective-life’ spirituality: “As to whether a spiritual revolution will take place after that - well, predicting the future has its limits”! The findings should certainly challenge every minister. Dancing with Dementia: my story of living positively with dementia (Jessica Kingsley, London 2005; 200pp; £12.95; ISBN 1 841230 332 X) by Australian Christine Bryden, is a most unusual and fascinating book. The author, who was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 1995, reflects on her experience, and in so doing brings in her Christian faith and attributes the slowing-down of her dementia to prayer. She argues for greater empowerment and respect for people with dementia. This is a ‘must’ for anybody dealing with dementia sufferers. After Baptism: Shaping the Christian Life (Westminster John Knox, Louisville 2005; 155pp; £11.99; ISBN 0 664 22884 4; available in the UK through SPCK) by John Burgess, a Reformed systematic theologian, is a most unusual book, in that its basic argument is that the Ten Commandments are essential to the spiritual growth and development of those baptised as babies. In particular, the author argues, the commandments to respect the Sabbath, to respect parents, and to respect human life (i.e. not murder) are the key to the other seven. This novel approach left me unmoved. The Word Biblical Commentary sets out to serve the needs of “professional scholars and teachers, students of the Bible and of theology, working ministers, and anyone who wants a theological understanding of Scripture that is grounded in the best of today’s biblical scholarship”. Alas, increasingly the emphasis has been on the first two categories. The two-volume Word commentary on Deuteronomy - Deuteronomy 1.1-21.9 (revised edition, Nelson, Nashville 2001; 458pp; £21.99 hardback; ISBN 0 7852 4220 1) and Deuteronomy 21.10-34.12 (Nelson, Nashville 2002; 457pp; £21.99 hardback; ISBN 0 8499 1032 3, both available in the UK through Paternoster) by Duane L Christensen, is a case in point. Although an excellent scholars’ commentary, much of it really is beyond the needs of the average pastor of a local church. The Bible, the Church, and Homosexuality (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2005; 136pp; £10.95; ISBN 0 232 52606 0), edited by Nicholas Coulton, consists of six essays by Oxford-based academics, arguing that a change in the Anglican church’s approach to homosexuality would be consistent with its understanding of Scripture and with its traditional ways of working with doctrine. Whether or not these essays will cause anybody to change their minds on this contentious issue is, however, doubtful. Preachers looking for ideas for a fresh sermon series would benefit from reading Difficult Texts (The Great Texts: A Preaching Commentary) (Abingdon Press, 2005; 118pp; £9.99; from Alban Books of Edinburgh; ISBN 0 687 05511 3) in which Catherine Gunsalus Gonzalez, a retired church history professor, wrestles with six Scripture passages: Proverbs 30.7-9 (Can the consumer ever be satisfied?); 1 Corinthians 7.1-8, 25-28 (Celibacy? You’re Kidding!); Acts 19.11-20 (Blest handkerchiefs and demons); Matthew 20.12-28 (Shouldn’t we try to get ahead?); and Romans 12.14-13.4 (The God of vengeance). A stimulating read! A Mirror for the Church: Preaching in the First Five Centuries (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 2005; 240pp; £13.99; ISBN 0 8028 2866 3. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh) by Methodist minister David Dunn-Wilson, is a beautifully written examination of early preaching based on extensive research (the footnotes alone amount to almost half the book). An enjoyable read, it should act as an encouragement to many a preacher. Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask: Rediscovering Ministry (Abingdon, Nashville 2004; 175pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 687 00078 5; available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh) by Bill Easum, an American church consultant, together with Linnea Capshaw, is a call to pastors to take every-member-ministry seriously. Probably the most challenging aspect of the book is the title - using this lively illustration taken from words normally used by cabin staff (“Before helping someone else with their oxygen mask, put yours on first”), Easum writes: “Too many Christians are so busy that they don’t take time to develop their own spiritual life”. To change the metaphor, Christians need to get off the non-stop treadmill of Christian service and see to their own spiritual needs - otherwise they will go into a spiritual coma and die. I find Nick Fawcett’s writing particularly helpful. For You and For Many: Contemporary Additional Texts for Celebrating the Lord’s Supper (Kevin Mayhew, Buxhall, Stowmarket, 2004; 93pp; £10.99; ISBN 1 84417 194 9) is a case in point. The opening section ‘Words of Invitation’ would greatly enrich any communion service. God Bless You: prayers of blessing and consecration for all occasions (Kevin Mayhew, Buxhall, Stowmarket, 2005; 112pp; £6.99; ISBN 1 84417 362 3) is an amazingly diverse inspirational collection ranging from a blessing for a healing team to a blessing of a new dog! A Quiet Word: fully worked out programmes for Quiet Days (Kevin Mayhew, Buxhall, Stowmarket 2001; 304pp; £22.50; ISBN 1 84003 774 1) is a compilation of two of his earlier books, namely No Ordinary Man, and No Ordinary Man 2. Although intended for use by ministers leading Quiet Days (it contains sufficient material for thirteen such days), it is also a marvellous resource for Sunday services. It contains a large number of prayers and meditations on such themes as the life of Christ, the ministry of Christ, Peter, Paul, John, women of faith, people of the Spirit, the cost of discipleship and living with doubt. In Daily Prayer: Time with God (Kevin Mayhew, Buxhall, Stowmarket, 2003; 815pp; £9.99; ISBN 1 84417 094 2), Nick Fawcett provides for every day a brief Scripture (normally in a thought-provoking translation of his own) followed by a comment, a question, a prayer, another Scripture, and a closing prayer. This would be a great devotional tool, not least for couples and even perhaps for families. The Modern Theologians: an introduction to Christian theology since 1918 (Blackwell Publishing, Oxford 2005; 819pp; £19.99; ISBN 1 4051 0277 2), edited by David F Ford with Rachel Muers, is a veritable ‘magnum opus’. This third edition includes not only expanded and updated treatments of topics covered in earlier editions, but a new section on six classic theologians of the 20th century, together with new chapters on spirituality, pastoral theology, postcolonial biblical interpretation, Pentecostal theology, Buddhism and Christian theology, theology and film (this last chapter concludes with reflections on Mel Gibson’s ‘The Passion of the Christ’). This is a fascinating work of reference. Thinking of preaching a sermon series on Acts? Then you would be well-advised to buy The Word of His Grace: A guide to teaching and preaching from Acts (IVP, Leicester 2005; 189pp; £8.99; ISBN 1 84474 075 7) by Chris Green, now Vice-Principal of Oak Hill College, London. Divided into four parts, the first part gives an over-view to the theological framework of Acts, while the second part takes a more detailed ‘sectionalised’ look at Acts. In the third part the author then puts his theology into practice and includes six sermons he has preached on various passages in Acts. The final part is entitled ‘Living Acts’, and also includes a guide to further reading. This is down-to-earth scholarship at the service of the local church and is to be warmly welcomed. A useful book to lend/give to ‘seekers’ is I’d Like To Believe, But… (IVP, Leicester 2005; 126pp; £5.99; ISBN 1 84474 073 0) by Michael Green and Nick Spencer. Nick Spencer, through his work of analysing contemporary trends and attitudes, provides the questions (e.g. ‘You don’t need to go to church to be spiritual’; ‘The church is too inflexible’; ‘Christians are such hypocrites’; etc.) and Michael Green provides the answers. Prayer: The Cry for the Kingdom (Revised edition: Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2005; 143pp; £8.99; ISBN 0 8028 2847 7) by the late Stanley Grenz, a Baptist scholar who taught at Carey College, Vancouver, is highly readable and an excellent little book to give to any thoughtful layperson. By contrast, I found Answering God: Towards a Theology of Intercession (Paternoster, Milton Keynes 2005; 220pp; £14.99; ISBN 1 84227 340 X) by Robert Ellis, Baptist minister and tutor in pastoral theology at Regent’s Park College, Oxford, somewhat hard going. Both books engage with other theologians, but Grenz wears his learning lightly, whereas Ellis gives the impression of writing a thesis. The New International Greek Testament Commentary Series, with its commitment to detailed exegesis of the Greek text along with interaction with a wealth of New Testament research, is evangelical scholarship at its best. In this respect Murray Harris’ commentary in this series on The Second Epistle to the Corinthians (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids and Paternoster, Milton Keynes 2005; 989pp; £49.99 hardback; ISBN 0 85364 580 9) is no exception. It is a truly magisterial work. It is, however, more than a beautifully printed work of scholarship. It is also a great resource for preaching. For the pastor with a knowledge of Greek, this is a book to buy, in spite of its price. Compulsory reading for all bishops, moderators, regional ministers and the like should be Pastors in Transition: Why Clergy Leave Local Church Ministry (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2005; 271pp; £12.99; ISBN 0 8028 2908 2. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh) by Dean R Hoge and Jacqueline E Wenger, which presents the findings of an American survey of more than 900 former ministers from the Assemblies of God, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Presbyterian Church, and the United Methodist Church. Significantly the main factors pushing pastors away from local ministry are not financial, but (1) organizational and interpersonal; and (2) a lack of support and support systems. A third finding is that it is not just one, but rather a combination of stresses and difficulties that influences pastors to leave. The Community of the Word: Towards an Evangelical Ecclesiology (Apollos, Leicester 2005; 291pp; £14.99; ISBN 1 84474 082 X), edited by Mark Husbands and Daniel J Treier, both teachers at Wheaton College, Illinois, consists of a collection of scholarly papers presented to a 2004 Wheaton College conference. The underlying issue being addressed is the traditional failure of evangelicals to take the church, ‘the community of the word’, seriously. Although British evangelicals have been equally guilty of over-personalising the Gospel, this collection of essays is particularly directed to the American scene - there is almost no interaction at all with any British scholars or church leaders, with the result that it loses interest for British readers. Grace in a Tree Stump: Old Testament Stories of God’s Love (UK edition SPCK, London 2005; 141pp; £8.99; ISBN 0 664 22900 X) by J Ellsworth Kalas, Professor of Preaching at Asbury Theological Seminary, Kentucky, is a wonderful resource for preachers wanting to preach from the Old Testament. The passages discussed include Genesis 1.1-5, 26-31 (‘Grace in the Morning’), Deuteronomy 5.1-7 (‘Gracious Commandments’), Ruth 1.1-5 and 4.13-22 (‘Grace and God’s Love for the Future’), and Lamentations 3.19-33 (‘New Every Morning’). Pastoral Care in the Small Membership Church (Abingdon, Louisville, Kentucky, 2005; 103pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 687 34326 7; available in the UK through SPCK) by James L Killen, a Methodist pastor of 44 years’ standing, is a helpful guide to any young minister starting out on ministry. Sadly the difference between pastoral care in smaller church and in larger churches is that there is often less care in the latter than in the former. The New Testament (Kevin Mayhew, Buxhall, Stowmarket, 2004; 653pp; £19.99 hardback; ISBN 1 84417 324 0), ‘freshly translated’ by Nicholas King, a Jesuit priest and New Testament scholar, is a magnificent work. I particularly liked the ‘interactive guide’ in which the translator provides helpful comments (and questions) for the reader after each short section. In his introduction Nicholas King states that the aim of the translation is “encouraging people to read the New Testament”. This is a book to recommend, particularly to people who are not familiar with the Bible. Nicholas King is now at work on translating the Old Testament. Hopefully it will not be long before that too is published. I confess that, with one exception, I was not greatly stimulated by The Creativity of Listening: Being There, Reaching Out (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2005; 147pp; £10.95; ISBN 0 232 52579 X) by Anglican priest Bill Kirkpatrick. The exception, however, made the reading worthwhile: “The basic message of pastoral care is that people matter”. Amen, and Amen! Were You There? Finding Ourselves At the Foot of the Cross (Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky 2005; 163pp hardback; available through SPCK at £12.99; ISBN 0 664 22778 3) by American psychotherapist Erik Kolbell consists of a series of somewhat creative reflections on characters of the Passion. Preachers will enjoy using some of his insights. A useful preaching resource is provided by Richard R Losch, an American Episcopalian priest, in The Uttermost Part of the Earth: a guide to places in the Bible (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2005; 272pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 8028 2805 1. Available in the UK through Alban of Edinburgh), which provides illuminating portraits of all the significant locations found in the O
You are reading Issue 35 of Ministry Today, published in November 2005.
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