Leaven Hidden in the Loaf: Dec 2001

He was scarred by evil, before memory began, suffered great loss; yet was saved by sacrificial love. Raised where materialism and greed were the highest values, he received letter upon letter inviting him into fulfillment of his divine design. At last he walked through the invisible barrier and began the arduous task of learning and finding his way in a shifting world, where nothing is quite as it first seems. He received and honored friends despite their lack of looks, popularity or riches. He discovered one of his giftings while defending the weak. He followed the paths of righteousness and love, courageously protecting his friends and perceived goodness at the risk of serious personal loss. Moving with courage and loyalty both for and from his friends, he walked into the fearsome den of iniquity where he triumphed not through skill, but through character: not seeking the prize for personal gain, but for goodness' sake. He cast out evil by the laying on of hands, the power coming from the sacrificial love spent on his behalf.

Most works of fiction that are any good, are good because the savor of the gospel is hidden within. "I would as soon stand up and read from the Gospel of Luke, but that probably would not work here. So I turn to the great literature that gets across that same message..." (Dr. Robert Coles, who teaches literature at Harvard & Duke University, quoted in Yancy's Soul Survivor.)

CROSSOVER BOOKS: I'm always interested in books that point toward the lord, but can be given to nonChristians, or even those allergic to Christianity. Stealth Books: C.S. Lewis's Narnia Series, Jan Karon's Mitford Series, Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies, Gaiman & Pratchett 's Good Omens.
Picture books can also sneak across boundaries; The Clown of God, The Quiltmaker's Gift, All Things Bright and Beautiful. There is even a comic book/picture book version of Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe--good for the child who will never read anything he hasn't already read.
The beautifully illuminated Celtic Prayers does well for folk who are 'spiritual.' Celtic stuff is cool for some reason. Henri Nowen's Return of the Prodigal Son and Bro. Lawrence's Practice of the Presence of God, cross denominational lines with surprising ease.

NOTE: Two dollar shipping is our new basic charge, no matter what the size of the order. $2 in 2002. If anyone wants to give us mailing supplies for Christmas, we like clear packing tape, 10 per page laser printable labels, and various sized envelopes. We also like $1 stamps....

MY FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BIBLE (preschool and up) is still Zonderkids' Read with me Bible ($12.97); Fun pictures, a great word to picture ratio, and no moralizing between the lines.

A BIG BOX of Christian Home Schooling materials in great condition has arrived. Literature, Math, Language, Science. Come get them off our intake shelves and save us the trouble of pricing and shelving.

A RECOMMENDATION by a man who led various mission organizations: Blood Brothers by Elias Chacour. The story opens with the point of view of a young Christian Palestinian as the post WW II Jews come to town. "An accurate, moving account worthy of careful attention." Good to read in these perilous times.

BOOKS BRAVELY BEGUN: This time of year I cruise bookstores and stationary stores looking for the perfect journal/planner. Surely the right book will totally organize my life, catch all my great ideas, bring them to fruition and keep a meaningful record as well. Dream on. On Friday Dec. 28, we'll have a Journal/Planner Symposium at NOON. Bring successes and failures from last year, and GREAT AND HOPEFUL plans for the new year. Left over Christmas goodies are welcome, too.

PHIL LOANED ME Yancy's Soul Survivor- "How my faith survived the church." He said I needed to read it. Clearly there is some confusion here on who is supposed to be foisting books on whom! Fitting right in to my recent run of essays on influential Christians, the book opens with a chapter on spiritual abuse and follows with chapters on a dozen writers & statesmen--Yancy's chosen few. I've been reading it greedily all weekend. Between Soul Survivor, Chosen Vessels on ten Christian men and Bright Legacy on ten Christian women, I've now read essays on over thirty great Christians in the last two months.
At first it was hard to deal with my nothingness as I read of these great ones. I'm not rescuing babies off the streets, getting tortured in jails, binding leper's wounds or even getting my writing out. My life seems appallingly comfortable and self serving. Yet pressing on past the initial sense of my little flame disappearing in the light of these luminaries, I entered into a place of appreciation and awe of God's great and wide world; the immense variety in creation and the limitless ways God uses ordinary people, despite their sins and flaws. Within the incarnation resides not only God's greatest blessing on creation but also the sanctification of the particular; the promise that our little lives also can incarnate his wondrous love and the faith that ordinary citizens, fueled by faith, can play an impressive role in advancing the cause of justice and mercy.

Merry Christmas.

Blessings,
Alliee +