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Short Notes

By Paul Beasley-Murray and Alun Brookfield.

In her lively commentary on the book of Esther (Abingdon, Nashville 2005; 177pp; £13.99; ISBN 0 687 47942 2. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), Linda Day addresses not simply the traditional concerns of scholars, but also seeks to root the message of Esther, ‘the outed Jew, in today’s world. A welcome tool for preachers.

Preachers will enjoy using Exodus through the Centuries (Blackwell, Oxford 2005; 294pp; £24.99; ISBN 0 631 23524 8) by Scott M Langston, in which the author shows the varying ways in which this key book has been understood, not least by liberation movements down the centuries. Truly a commentary with a difference, offering much illustrative material.

Rethinking Christendom: Europe’s struggle for Christianity (Gracewing, Leominster 2005; 246pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 85244 647 0) by Jonathan Luxmoore, an English freelance journalist, and Jolanta Babiuch, Polish lecturer at Oxford Brookes, is essential reading for any one wanting to understand the background to the present debate on the place of Christianity within Europe today. This wide-ranging account, drawing upon perspectives from both East and West, is ‘a good read’.

Anyone trying to steer beginners around the Old Testament would find John Holdsworth’s SCM study guide, The Old Testament (SCM, London, 2005; 239pp; £14.99; ISBN 0 334 02985 6) very useful indeed. Written in fluent (almost racy!) style, it covers all the basic stuff, offers suggestions for further reading and a variety of exercises called ‘reflections’. A very useful book indeed. The only gripe is that the layout lacks imagination.

I can heartily recommend Philip Baker’s Secrets of Super Achievers (Lion, Oxford, 2005; 193pp; £7.99; ISBN 0 7459 5212 7) in spite of the fact that he still believes in the trickle-down theory of capitalism. It’s concisely written, full of good stories and sound principles. Don’t let the misleading title put you off - it’s actually about living life to the full, not about making a success in career, although the former may lead to the latter.

John H Heidt’s A Faith for Skeptics (Gracewing, Leominster, 2005; 143pp; £7.99; ISBN 0 85244 628 4) comes with a glowing commendation from the Archbishop of Canterbury and is intended to be given away to sceptical friends, family and colleagues as an evangelistic tool. However, the spelling of the title will tell you that this book has its origins in the USA and that betrays its weakness. It is a very personal book (considerable use of the first person singular) addressed very directly at its readers (equally considerable use of the second person singular) which made me feel I was listening to one man’s opinion rather than getting a much bigger picture of the Christian faith. To make matters worse, the typeface is too small for comfortable reading. As a result, although it covers the issues well, I confess that I can’t think of anyone I would want to lend this to. Worth having for sermon ideas, though.

Searching 4 Faith (Lion, Oxford, 2006; 126pp; £6.99; ISBN 0 7459 5195 3) by Brian Draper is a beautifully written and produced invitation to explore the Christian faith. Again it’s a book to give away or lend and is, in this reviewer’s opinion, much more attuned to UK young adults than the John Heidt book reviewed elsewhere. It’s more concisely written, is better looking, has a bigger typeface, full-colour illustrations and is £1 cheaper!

I loaned User’s Guide to the Bible (Lion, Oxford, 2006; 125pp; £6.99; ISBN 0 7459 5196 1) by Stephen M Miller to a man who attends an enquirer’s group at our church. He’d never opened a Bible before, so I figured he’d be the sort of person this book was aimed at. He was thrilled with it and wants it back when I’ve written this review. It’s a mini-Bible dictionary and ideal for people like my friend. As always with Lion, it’s beautifully produced and presented with lots of full colour illustrations.

Jane Williams, the author of Approaching Easter (Lion, Oxford, 2006; 128pp; £9.99 hardback; ISBN 0 7459 5199 6) is married to the Archbishop of Canterbury, but is a considerable theologian in her own right. She shares her husband’s polymathic approach to the Christian faith, which makes this little book an absolute delight. It’s beautifully written, illustrated throughout with full colour reproductions of fine art, and would give even the most jaded minister a fresh perspective on the Easter events. If I have a complaint, it is that no guidance is offered on how to use the book to the best advantage. Nevertheless it will be at the heart of my Lenten reading this year.

Anything by Margaret Silf is worth reading and the new edition of Sacred Spaces: Stations on a Celtic Way (Lion, Oxford, 2005; 160pp; £6.99; ISBN 0 7459 5186 4) is an accessibly written exploration of the Celtic notion of ‘thin places’ - places where the divide between visible and invisible was very thin. Helpfully there are seven chapters, one for each week of Lent, each exploring a ‘sacred space’, so this will be added to my Lenten reading and meditation.

Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically (Nelson, Nashville, 2005; 363pp; $29.99; ISBN 1 4185 0006 2) edited by John Macarthur, brings together essays by a variety of American authors on the theme stated in the title. Living as I do in a sheep-farming community, it was immediately clear that the Editor of this volume had not the first idea about shepherding, especially when he describes it as “not a difficult job”! This lack of understanding unfortunately makes some of his exegesis and application of Scripture in relation to ministry highly suspect! Still, some of the chapters are worth reading, provided the reader can ignore the American right-wing evangelicalism which underlies most of the content and pokes through in places.

I’m not sure who might be expected to pay £35.00 (hardback) for Evangelicals Etcetera (Ashgate, Aldershot 2005; 266pp; ISBN 0 7546 5215 7). It is basically a PhD thesis, complete with extensive indices, based on original research into conflict and dispute between the various ‘parties’ in the Church of England. It would be useful information to a statistician, but contributes little to understanding between the various alleged groupings, for, as the author admits, the subtleties of belief and practice often override any classification system. The present reviewer, for example, would, if forced into it, describe himself as a Bapto-Catholic post-evangelical sub-liberal semi-charismatic - in other words, trying to be, as St Paul once commented, “all things to all people”.

Strangely autism is on the increase. In 1980 the incidence of autism was 1 in 2000; whereas in 2005 the incidence is around 1 in 200 - a tenfold increase.   This makes Voices from the Spectrum:  Parents, grandparents, siblings, people with autism, and professionals share their wisdom (Jessica Kingsley, London 2005; 272pp; £12.99; ISBN 1 84310 786 4), edited by Cindy N Ariel and Robert A Naseef, all the more important. This highly readable volume consists of 60 personal accounts of issues such as diagnosis, treatment options, and family relationships. The contributors were asked to address how autism has changed their lives, what they have learned, and what they would want others to know that might help them. This is a key resource for all wanting to understand the varying forms of autism. 

The Bible in Pastoral Practice:  Readings in the Place and Function of Scripture in the Church (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2005; 316pp; £17.95; ISBN 0232 52611 7), edited by Paul Ballard and Stephen Holmes, contains 21 wide-ranging essays by various people engaged in theological education. For example: ‘The gifts and challenges of historical and literary criticism’ (John Rogerson); ‘The Scriptures in preaching’ (Michael Quicke); ‘The Bible in evangelical spirituality’;  ‘The Bible and pastoral care’ (Herbert Anderson).  Although the stated aim is for practitioners as well as scholars, it is more of interest to the latter. If the former were really in mind, then it would have been wise to have had some of the essays written by practitioners!   

First published in 1997, Theology of the Old Testament: Testimony, Dispute, Advocacy (Fortress Press, Minneapolis 2005; 777pp; £18.99; ISBN 0 8006 3745 8.  Available in the UK through Alban of Edinburgh) by Walter Brueggemann  has been re-issued in paperback accompanied with a CDrom (which includes web-links, chapter summaries, as well as the searchable text) at what is a bargain price. Students will welcome this new edition of a magisterial introduction to Old Testament theology.

The Iona community are prolific in producing materials for worship. Three of their recent books by one of their members, Ruth Burgess, are Candles and Conifers:  Resources for All Saints’ and Advent (Wild Goose Publications, Glasgow 2005; 263pp; £14.99; ISBN 1 901557 96 0); Hay and Stardust: Resources for Christmas to Candlemas (Wild Goose Publications, Glasgow 2005; 270pp; £14.99; ISBN 1 905010 00 1); and Hear My Cry: A daily prayer book for Advent (Wild Goose Publications, Glasgow 2005; 101pp; £7.99; ISBN 1 901557 952).   The first two are treasure troves of seasonal resources, and are worth investing in;  the latter takes more the shape of a prayer journal, and necessitates the reader making time for reflection.  Another aid to private devotions is The Jesse Tree: Daily Readings for Advent (Wildgoose Publications, Glasgow 2005; 85pp; £7.99; ISBN 1 905010 06 0) by Thom Shuman, which explores some of the lessons the ancestors (genetic and/or ‘spiritual) of Jesus have to offer.  

The material in 50 Sketches About Jesus (Kingsway, Eastbourne 2005; 284pp;£8.99; ISBN 0 85476 814 9) by David Burt, is grouped into four main sections:  ‘Meet Jesus’, ‘Walk the Talk’, ‘Reaching Out’, and ‘Christmas’. A useful resource.

Free church ministers in particular will welcome Where Cross The Crowded Ways: Prayers of a City Pastor (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids revised edition 2005; 105pp; £5.99; ISBN 0 8028 2981 3 - available in the UK through Alban of Edinburgh) by Ernest T  Campbell, the former pastor of The Riverside Church, New York, who has written a wide range of range of thoughtful and beautifully-crafted prayers for all kinds of occasions. The only change from the first edition is that the Elizabethan English has now been dropped.

In Alzheimer’s: A Journey Together (Jessica Kingsley, London 2005; 112pp; £8.99;  ISBN 1 84310 408 3), Frederica Caracciolo tells of her experience of caring for her husband during his seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s. This moving first-hand account tells not simply of the pain, but also of the strategies for coping which the author developed. This is a useful book to recommend to people facing a similar journey. A less personalised, albeit highly informative, guide is The Challenge of Dementia (4M Publications, Edinburgh EH3 6SA, 2004; 239pp; £14.95; ISBN 0 9530494 6 9) by Malcolm Goldsmith, who deals not just with dementia itself, but has a lengthy section on how the local church might respond to caring for sufferers from dementia. The final section of the book is devoted to theological reflection on dementia. For the author the person with dementia remains a person up to the point of death. That person is ‘sanctified ground’,  however lost the former self seems to be. With one person in twenty over the age of 65 and about one in five over the age of 80 having dementia, this book should be on the shelf of every pastor.

Deportation is Freedom! The Orwellian World of Immigration Controls (Jessica Kingsley, London 2005; 224pp; £12.99; ISBN 1 84310 294 3) by former barrister Steve Cohen, is a hard-hitting and thought-provoking attack on Britain’s immigration systems, which he believes to be inherently racist and irrational. This is a book of particular interest to all those seeking to help asylum seekers.

Learning for Ministry: Making the most of study and training (Church House Publishing, London 2005; 210pp; £12.99; ISBN 0 7151 4053 1) by Steve Croft and Roger Walton, is a simple workbook for all those about to train for ministry. Divided into four sections, it looks in turn at knowing God better;  knowing yourself better and being changed;  understanding and serving the church;  and understanding and caring for God’s world. Although written particularly with the needs of Anglicans and Methodists in mind, ordinands from other denominational traditions would greatly benefit from this book too.

The psychiatrist Jack Dominian has written widely on sex, marriage and relationships.   This particular book, A Guide to Loving (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2005; 106pp; £7.95; ISBN 0 232 52609 5) is intended for ‘everyone’, and is therefore pretty basic stuff.

Do Christians Know How To Be Spiritual? The rise of new spirituality and the mission of the church (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2005; 186pp; £12.95; ISBN 0 232 52632 X) by John Drane, who taught practical theology in the universities of Aberdeen and Stirling, and is currently an adjunct professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, California, is an expansion of the 2004 London Lectures in Contemporary Christianity. The book begins with an exploration of the relationship between ‘religion’ and ‘spirituality, and ends with a chapter on ‘creating churches for spiritual searchers’.  I found this a disappointing read, in the sense that it contains nothing new; nor does it actually provide practical models for how churches can rise to the challenge of spiritual searchers. Of much more help and interest would have been stories from the grassroots. A book like this needs to be written by a practitioner as well as a theologian.

The Parables [The Great Texts:  A Preaching Commentary] (Abingdon, Nashville 2005; 127pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 687 09049 0. Available from Alban Books of Edinburgh) by Baptist pastor Paul Simpson Duke is a collection of lively expositions of eight familiar parables.  A good resource for preachers!

CS Lewis fans and indeed others will be delighted with The CS Lewis Chronicles:  The Indispensable Biography of the Creator of Narnia, Full of Little-Known Facts, Events and Miscellany (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2005; 306pp; £9.95; ISBN 0 232 52646 X) by Colin Duriez. This is a book to dip in, savour, and enjoy! A more demanding book is The Narnian: the Life and Imagination of CS Lewis (SPCK, London 2005; 342pp; £12.99; ISBN 0 281 05784 2) by Alan Jacobs of Wheaton College, Illinois. Well-written, although the American attempt to explain English customs is at times somewhat laboured, the author seeks to relate the biography to the Narnia stories in particular.

Understanding Street Drugs: A Handbook of Substance Misuse for Parents, Teachers and Other Professionals (Jessica Kingsley, London 2nd edition 2005; 336pp; £17.99;  ISBN 1 84310 351 6) by David Emmett and Graeme Nice, provides a wealth of information, clearly written and presented, and is an indispensable guide to anybody working with young people, and indeed not so young people. It is a sobering thought that today there are an estimated five million regular users of illegal substances in the UK. A million of these have used cocaine within the past 12 months, while there are an estimated four million cannabis users. The authors point out the dangers of cannabis: young people who use cannabis regularly at the age of 15 are four and a half times more likely than non-users to suffer significant mental health problems. Every minister would benefit from buying a copy of this excellent book.

Living in Praise:  Worshipping and Knowing God (Darton, Longman and Todd, London revised 2005; 214pp; £14.95; ISBN 0 232 52625 7) by David F Ford and Daniel W Hardy, was first published in 1984 under the title of Jubilate: Theology in Praise. The main change to the earlier edition is that a ten-page Epilogue has now taken the place of the previous two appendices, which seeks to address the question of why praise is so important. I found this to be a thoughtful, but difficult-to-read, exploration of the nature of praise.  

For leaders of family services and possibly speakers at youth services, Sermon Seeds: 40 creative sermon starters (Abingdon, Nashville 2005; 160pp; £11.99; ISBN 0 687 33171 4. Available in the UK through Alban of Edinburgh) by Dottie Escobedo-Frank, may be a useful resource, but not for preachers wishing to expound the Scriptures in a meaningful manner.

The magisterial Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counselling (Abingdon, Louisville, 2nd edition 2005; 1452pp; £44.99 hardback; ISBN 0 687 49751 5.  Available in the UK from Alban Books of Edinburgh), edited by Rodney Hunter together with others, first published in 1995, is now, under the editorship of Nancy Ramsay, expanded by the addition of seven new essays (reflecting on developments in this expanding field) and also the inclusion of a CD-rom which includes the full text as also hyper-linked cross-references. A mine of information for pastors, and is a delight to dip into. Bearing in mind its size, the price is not exorbitant.

In Death and the Rest of our Life (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2005; 96pp;  £5.99; ISBN 0 8028 2918 X. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), American Orthodox priest John Garvey reflects on the death of his father and muses more generally on the meaning of death and its aftermath. A book to lend to the bereaved.

A Touching Place: the Ministry of Healing in the Local Church - A Practical Handbook (Canterbury Press, Norwich 2005; 88pp; £7.99; ISBN 1 85311 631 9) by John Gunstone, a canon-emeritus of Manchester Cathedral, with much experience of the Christian ministry of healing, has produced a helpful ‘sane’ guide to all those who want to reach out with the touch of Jesus.

Preachers looking for a fresh way in to the Passion of Jesus would be helped by Celebrating Holy Week in a Post-Holocaust World (Westminster John Knox, Louisville 2005; 172pp; £11.99; ISBN 0 664 22902 6. Available in the UK through SPCK), in which Henry F Knight explores the crucifixion of Jesus in relation to Jews, Judaism and the events of the Holocaust. This is very much a book for pastors. Each chapter, for instance, ends with prayers and other liturgical material.

Another useful resource for Holy Week, and for Good Friday in particular, is Seven Words for Three Hours: A Good Friday Meditation in Words and Music (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2005; 94pp; £17.95; ISBN 0 232 52645 1), edited by Edmund Newell, Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, with music by Adrian Snell (a CD is included). A reworking of Seven Words for the 21st Century, published by DLT in 2002, this book includes contributions from Sabina Alkire, Giles Fraser, Richard Harries, Tarjei Park, Rowan Williams and Lucy Winkett, and has a strong Christian-Jewish dimension.   This thoughtful book could be used for Lent home groups or for Good Friday itself.  

Another approach to the ‘seven words’ is provided by Stanley Hauerwas, Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke University, in Cross-shattered Christ:  Meditations on the Seven Last Words (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2005; 108pp; £9.95; ISBN 0 232 52599 4). Although perhaps written with personal devotion in mind, it provides plenty of ‘grist for the mill’ to any preacher.

The Scriptures, the Cross and the Power of God (SPCK, London 2005; 84pp; £7.99; ISBN 0 281 05770 2) by Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham, is an over-priced ‘pocket book’ containing the text eight light-weight sermons preached by the author in Holy Week 2005  

The Church Treasurer’s Handbook: A Comprehensive Companion and Guide (Canterbury Press, Norwich 2005; 280pp; £14.99; ISBN 1 85311 646 7) by Robert Leach, an accountant and member of the Church of England’s General Synod, offers clear and simply-written advice to all those called to look after money in the church. It is written in such a way that non-Anglican church treasurers can benefit from it. 

How to read Genesis (Paternoster, Milton Kenyes 2005; 192pp; £9.99; ISBN 1 84227 385 X) by Tremper Longman III is a conservative, albeit thoughtful, guide to some of the more difficult issues presented by the Book of Genesis. A useful read for any minister considering preaching a sermon series on this key Old Testament book.

Studies in Matthew (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2005; 397pp; £18.99; ISBN 0 8028 3964 9  Available in the UK from Alban Books of Edinburgh) by retired New Testament professor, Ulrich Luz, is a collection of 18 scholarly essays dating from 1971-2003. This fine book is essentially for the academy, and not for the pastor’s study!

For sufferers and counsellors alike, Transforming Trauma: A Path toward Wholeness (Orbis, Maryknoll, New York, 2005; 159pp; £8.99; ISBN 1 57075 615 5. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh) by Teresa Rhodes McGee, is a helpful guide to understanding the nature of trauma, whether it be caused by abuse, violence, illness or loss, and in turn to experience the peace of God in the midst of pain.

Lit by the Light of God: Prayers and Meditations through the Year (SPCK, London 2005; 126pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 281 05642 0) by Melvyn Matthews, Chancellor of Wells Cathedral, is an unusual book, in that it consists of thoughtful reflections on a diverse collection of prayers for the Christian year. This is a book for pondering.

Grieving: a beginner’s guide (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2005; 136pp; £10.95; ISBN 0 232 52629 X) by Jerusha Hull McCormack, an academic who specialises in American, English and Anglo-Irish literature, is written out of personal experience of the pain of loss. Honest and down-to-earth, ministers would do well to heed the final chapter in which the author gives ‘guidelines for spirit guardians’ - a practical compendium of what, and what not, to do when seeking to help the bereaved.

Home group leaders will welcome Creative Praying in Groups (SPCK, London 2005; 163pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 281 05733 8), by Julia McGuiness which provides over 80 creative ideas for developing the prayer life of the group. 

Those interested in some of the books which never made it into the New Testament will welcome The Secret Gospels of Jesus: The Definitive Collection of Gnostic Gospels and Mystical Books About Jesus of Nazareth (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2005; 338pp; £12.95; ISBN 0 232 52618 4) edited by Marvin Meyer who prefaces each ‘book’ with a helpful introduction.

Faith in Europe? The Cardinal’s Lectures (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2005; 94pp; £9.95; ISBN 0 232 52630 3) consists of six lectures given at Westminster Cathedral by Cormac Muphy-O’Connor, Bob Geldof, Mary McAleese, Chris Patten, Timothy Radcliffe and Kean Vanier. The theme which binds the lectures together is that although church-going may be on the decline, a longing for faith still underpins the European ideal.

The Mystical Language of Icons (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2005; 112pp; £18.95; ISBN 0 8028 2916 3. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh) by art historian Solrunn Ness, is a beautifully illustrated guide to the iconography of the Orthodox Church.

John Polkinghorne, Canon theologian of Liverpool, who before ordination worked for 25 years as a theoretical physicist, has written widely on the relationship between science and religion. A new edition of Quarks, Chaos and Christianity: Questions to Science and Religion (SPCK, London 2005; 100pp; £7.99; ISBN 0 281 05766 4) has been produced, fully revised in the light of recent developments in scientific research.   In his most recent book, Exploring Reality: The Intertwining of Science and Religion (SPCK, London 2005; 181pp; £13.99; ISBN 0 281 05723 0), he tackles issues such as human nature, the historical Jesus, the Trinity, and evil. Polkinghorne has the gift of writing simply about complex issues. Not only Christians, but also seekers, would benefit from reading both these books.

Living Easter through the Year: Making the Most of the Resurrection (SPCK, London 2005; 148pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 281 05709 5) by John Pritchard, Bishop of Jarrow, is a great resource and encourages pastors and preachers to make the most of the Easter season. As well as sermon ideas, there is also material for small groups. This is a book to buy!

Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Word Studies for Key English Bible Words based on the Hebrew and Greek texts (Hendrikson, Peabody Massachusetts, 2005; 1171pp; £17.99; ISBN 1 56563 938 3. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh) by Australian Stephen D Renn, is a strange book. The use of Greek and Hebrew gives it a scholarly feel, and yet it is not a work for scholars. I am not sure who will find this useful. It comes with a free CD.

Powerful Persuasion: Multimedia Witness in Christian Worship (Abingdon, Nashville 2005; 209pp; £12.99; ISBN 0 687 339014. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh) by Tex Sample is an unusual theological critique of the use of modern media (sound, light, beat, dance, drama) in contemporary worship. Full of practical examples, this book will sadly not appeal to most British churches, for the simple reason that most are not capable of staging the kind of worship seen in some of the larger North American churches.  

Daily Readings With Margaret Silf (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2005; 397pp; £9.95; ISBN 0 232 52361 1) has been selected from her earlier book Daysprings (published by DLT in 2001) and is essentially ‘a little book of reflections’.  Every day there is a short passage of Scripture (normally just one or two verses) followed by a pithy sentence or two from the author. For example, the text for 24 July is 2 Corinthians 4.7, with the comment: “… and even when we are shattered, the worst that can happen is that God’s love and grace and power spill over into the waiting world”. A book to accompany grace at the beginning of a meal?

A Universal Heart: the Life and Vision of Brother Roger of Taize (SPCK, London second edition 2005; 204pp; £10.99; ISBN 0 281 05799 0) by Kathryn Spink differs only from the 1986 first edition by the addition of a 22-page epilogue, which brings the story up to date, telling not only of Brother Roger’s assassination in August 2005, but also gives more detail on his relationship with Pope John Paul II. Taize enthusiasts will no doubt delight in this account: for others it is perhaps less inspiring.

Primarily geared to the American scene, Answers to Pastors’ FAQs (NexGen, Kingsway, reprinted 2005; 190pp; £7.99; ISBN 0 7814 4156 0) by Warren Wiersbe and Howard F Sugden, was first published in 1973. In spite of its subsequent revision in 1993, this book is extraordinarily dated - a totally new book needs to be written with a view to answering the questions raised!

One of the latest of the many books written by William Willimon, Professor of Christian Ministry and Dean of Duke University Chapel, is Proclamation and Theology (Abingdon, Nashville 2005; 106pp; £5.99; ISBN 0 687 49343 9. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh). For Willimon, preaching is not just a form of human communication: rather it is about God and by God. A tonic for every preacher.

Another recent book by William Willimon has the provocative title, Sinning like a Christian: A new look at the seven deadly sins (Abingdon, Nashville 2005; 159pp:; £6.99; ISBN 0 687 49280 7. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh) - a great resource for any minister wanting to preach a sermon series of the sins of pride, envy, anger, sloth, greed, gluttony and lust.

A Primer in Pastoral Care (Fortress Press, Minneapolis 2005; 96pp; £8.99; ISBN 0 8006 3760 7. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh) by Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner is a simple introduction for beginners in ‘care-giving’. It is expensive for its size and content.

Balance (Church House Publishing, London 2005; 69pp; £3.99; ISBN 0 7151 4079 5) by Robert Warren and Sue Mayfield, is a five session course on rest, work and play for Lent groups. Imaginative and highly practical, this is a superb exploration of the Sabbath.

The Pastoral Circle Revisited: A Critical Quest for Truth and Transformation (Orbis, Maryknoll, New York 2005; 241pp; £13.99; ISBN 1 57075 620 1. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), edited by Frans Wijsen, Peter Henrior and Rodrigo Mejia, is a collection of essays by scholars from all over the world, who explore the use of the so-called ‘pastoral circle’ in church and educational life. The ‘pastoral circle’ is essentially a tool of social analysis with a view to helping people discover and implement ‘pastoral action’ on behalf of social justice. In the UK it will be more of interest to missiolologists than to local pastors.

Collections of sermons sometimes, but not always, prove to be a useful resource for pastors as they seek fresh ways into the Biblical text. Bible Reflections Round the Christian Year (SPCK, London 2005; 144pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 281 05763 X) by the well-known Methodist preacher and broadcaster, Colin Morris, is particularly stimulating.

A little less stimulating is Glory in our Midst (SPCK, London 2005; 114pp; £8.99; ISBN 0 281 05582 3) by Michael Perham, Bishop of Gloucester, which focuses on Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Candlemas;

Even less stimulating again - to my mind, anyway - is Seeing in the Dark: University Sermons (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2005; 163pp; £12.95; ISBN 0 232 52619 2) by Nicholas Lash, the Norris-Hulse Professor Emeritus of Divinity at the University of Cambridge.

Lent resources for 2006 year include the following:

Show Me the Way: Readings for Each Day of Lent (Darton, Longman and Todd, London, first published in the UK in 1993, this edition 2005; 134pp; £9.95 ISBN 0 232 52648 6) by Henri Nouwen is essentially an anthology of readings selected and structured with the needs of Lent in mind.

Facing Forward:  Reflections on the Scripture Readings for Lent 2006 (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2005; 101pp; £4.95; ISBN 0 232 52647 8) by Kathy Galloway, Bede Leeach, Margaret Hebblethwaite, Esther Mombo, Nicholas King and Martin Warner, is the CAFOD/Christian Aid Lent Book for 2006.

Leaning Towards Easter: Readings and Stories from Ash Wednesday to Easter 2005 (SPCK, London 2005; 139pp; £7.99; ISBN 0 281 05612 9) by Chris Leonard, is primarily a collection of stories of individuals who have “found hope amid their everyday circumstances”. None of the stories, as the author admits, are “sock-it-to ‘em, happy-ever-after” extravaganzas, but illustrate how, “during dark times, the Holy Spirit often brings hope in little ways”.

In Company with Christ:  through Lent, Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter to Pentecost (SPCK, London 2005; 84pp; £7.99; ISBN 0 281 05724 9) by Benedicta Ward, is a somewhat rarified examination of 4th and 10th century accounts of Lent, Palm Sunday, Easter and Pentecost.

Take Up Your Cross: Daily Readings for Lent (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2005; 139pp; £8.95; ISBN 0 232 52567 6) by Vanessa Herrick, Director of Ministry and Vocation for the Diocese of Ely, is written specifically with the needs of ministers in mind. I particularly appreciated the last contribution. As Tim Stevens, the Bishop of Leicester, says in his foreword:  “Much of the contemporary mission discourse encourages the view that, given sufficient vision, faithfulness and commitment, it will be possible for the church’s ministers to grow their congregations. But in these meditations the emphasis is different. For the six weeks of Lent the reader is invited to attend less to the church and more to Jesus as he makes his way to Calvary”. And rightly so, for, as Vanessa Herrick reminds us, first and foremost ministers are called to be followers, and only then leaders.

Recent booklets from Grove of Cambridge (all 28pp in length and priced at £2.95) include the following:

Mark’s Jesus: The Message and Meaning of Mark (Biblical 37, 2005; ISBN 1 85174 601 3) by John Proctor of Westminster College, Cambridge, written in a lively style, with some helpful hints for preachers. 

Shame: Biblical reflections and pastoral advice on living with shame  (Pastoral 101, 2005; ISBN 1 85174 588 2) by John Watson, who has a delightful quote from the Talmud: ‘A sense of shame is a lovely sign in a man. Whoever has a sense of shame will not sin so quickly’.

Preaching at Weddings (Pastoral 103, 2005; ISBN 1 85174 602 1) by Rod Symmons , with some useful sermon ideas.

Creative Learning in the Local Church (Spirituality 94, 2005; ISBN 1 85174 600 5) in which Meg Orr shares her passion for theology.

How to use symbol and action in worship (Worship 184, 2005; ISBN 1 85174 598 X) by John Leach, a booklet more for Anglicans than others.

Towards the conversion of England: a report revisited (Evangelism 71, 2005; ISBN 1 85174 599 8) in which Geoff Pearson shows that in many ways things have not changed much since the report was first produced in 1945.

‘Islamic Terrorism’:  Is there a Christian response (Ethics 139, 2005; ISBN 1 85174 604 8) by Colin Chapman is an excellent guide, with the author rightly stating that terrorism “is not the root of the problem; it is usually a reaction to a perceived injustice, and therefore needs to be seen as a symptom of other underlying responses”.

Engaging Emotions:  The need for emotions in the Church (Renewal 22, 2005; ISBN 1 85174 605 6) in which Jamie Dow cogently argues that “emotions are not to be thought of as mysterious sub-rational forces sweeping through us from somewhere deep within.  Rather, they are cognitive and part of our rational minds, responsive to circumstances and hence motivators of (rationally justifiable) action”.

Mothering Sunday (Worship 185, 2005; ISBN 1 85174 603 X) in which Em Coley traces the roots of this emotive Sunday, before taking a brief look at some of the practicalities involved in ‘doing’ Mothering Sunday, such as inviting back baptism families to the service to celebrate their family units (perhaps with cake!).

A Gay-Straight Christian Dialogue: A little more conversation, a little less reaction, please (Pastoral 104, 2005; ISBN 1 85174 609 9) by ‘Michael’ and ‘Chris’, two Anglican ministers in the North of England, one ‘straight’ and the other ‘gay’, gives an illuminating insight into the experience of the latter.

Pints of View: Encounters down the pub (Evangelism 72, 2005; ISBN 1 85174 606 4) in which Peter Howell-Jones and Nick Wills tell the story of their running Christian events (e.g. question and answer sessions) in a local pub.

Truth with a Mission: reading Scripture missiologically (Biblical 38, 2005; ISBN 1 85174 608 0) by Christopher J H Wright who shows how all of Scripture points to Jesus as the fulfilment of God’s mission.

Finally, a particular welcome must be given to a new series of Grove booklets aimed at all those involved in working with young people. The first Youth Series booklet is Responding to Challenging Behaviour (Youth 1, 2005; ISBN 1 85174 610 2) by Jo and Nigel Pimlott, which along with a general survey of the causes of challenging behaviour, gives practical advice on such matters as culture-setting, negotiating, avoiding escalation, responding to aggressive behaviour, as well as tips for personal survival. There is an undoubted cost to working with young people today, but compared to the sacrifices made by pioneer missionaries to Africa, “if the most we have to put up with is the odd broken window, or bit of verbal abuse, then, in a historical sense, we have got off lightly”.