June slipped away. July slipped away. I figured I better grab August by the neck before the whole concept of a monthly newsletter slips away. Fortunately, people have been writing me about books:
Anita wrote that she had been reading THE LUCK OF NINEVEH, the greatest adventure in modern archeology by Arnold C. Buckman. It's an exiting account of Austen Henry Layard, who in the 1840s got interested Assyrian biblical cities and discovered Jonah's city of Nineveh. The book is out of print, but there are numerous copies available on abebooks.com. (The best place to look for oop books--after you check with us, of course.)
She also recommends Edward Fudge's book THE GREAT RESCUE. Comparable to John Stott's classic, BASIC CHRISTIANITY (which we have for under $5) THE GREAT RESCUE begins with our fallen world, shows its origin in human sin and our inability to rescue ourselves. It summarizes the Old Testament story in 20 pages, highlights Old Testament previews of Jesus, then explains in simple language exactly how Jesus saved sinners by coming as the God-Man to be the new Adam and new Israel and accomplishing a finished work. Next chapters show how anyone who believes can enjoy the benefits, regenerated by God's own power. Baptism expresses such faith and marks one as part of the Spirit-filled community. The final two chapters explore "the kaleidoscope" of biblical images for salvation and climax in "the grand finale" of new heavens and new earth. $10.
George Holley wrote that he found THE RED SEA RULES by Robert J. Morgan to be a wonderful book. It has 10 God given strategies for difficult times. The God who led you in will lead you out. $10.
He also said that Amy is really enjoying BAD GIRLS OF THE BIBLE by Liz Curtis Higgs. $14. Some are bad for a moment, some are bad for a season and some are bad to the bone!
Mariposa writes that NO HEROES; a Memoir of Coming Home by Chris Offett was exceptional. The writing is like poetry. It is the story of him returning to the Kentucky Hills, the land of his birth. $24. Mariposa is also currently enjoying Laurie King's mysteries.
I read Susan Howatch's THE WONDER WORKER, which showed up at camp, but I don't particularly recommend it. It's very churchy with lots of interesting psychology heavily laced with psychic episodes, but I found it fairly irritating to read a story that takes place around a charismatic healing center written by someone who seems to be without a clue about the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit. The story is compelling however, and we have it cheap if you want an engrossing, secular, churchy read.
Joey sent me copies of two Pauline Holmes books: GRACE AND THE LAW contends that Grace cannot be separated from the law of the Old Testament and calls for reattaching the head to the body. The other book is called HELL AND MADNESS; GRACE AND SANITY - subtitled The True Biblical Basis for Mental Health. Joey sent us 'loaner copies' of these books, so if your interested, come and borrow one.
Shannon found a copy of JESUS TALES cheap on ebay, and she also enjoyed this odd novel based around Jesus and Peter. Several people responded with interest to my last newsletter blurb about it. Sherri was the first in line to bag it. If you run into a copy at goodwill or somewhere, grab it.
Below The Knees: It's a well known retail fact that people rarely look below their knees. That is unfortunate around here as we have all sorts of interesting sections below the knees. In just half of the front room, for example, the bottom two shelves include: Leadership, Evangelism, New Christians, Comparitive Religion, Cults, Community, Sex, Marriage, Divorce, Family, Parenting, Home Schooling, Children's Bible stories, Secular Oversized Children's books, Angelic Stories, Chicken Soup stories, Icon & Prayer Cards, Foreign Languages and Missions. Whew.
What books does the 14 year old son of a bookseller get for his birthday? NIGHTMARE ACADEMY by Frank Peretti, $17; the second book in the Veritas Project Series, spiritual thrillers that take place in a high school setting. MISTAKES THAT WORKED by Charlotte Jones $12; little stories of familiar inventions from Coca Cola to Silly Putty, that were discovered on the way toward attempting something else. LADY COTTINGTON'S PRESSED FAIRY BOOK by Terry Jones. $16. You've heard of pressed flowers, of course. Well, Lady Cottington discovered that fairies were very curious and if you waited with an open book they would come to see what you were reading. Then *SNAP* you could catch them. The whole family chortled over this one. Writing about it is bound to significantly shorten my newsletter list: the hard line Christians objecting to anything to do with fairies, smashed or not, the sensitive souls decrying the inhumane treatment of fairies, and the materialists wondering why I'd bother with anything so obviously illusionary. This ought to leave about one reader for next month. I hope it's you.
Meanwhile, I have a yen to lead a workshop on making a collage. I don't know why I enjoy cutting out and arranging pictures so much, but I always find it both fun and revelatory. Kateri said she'd lead a workshop with me, which is wonderful because she cuts out cool pictures just for fun. She will undoubtedly share her picture piles with us. I'm thinking a September, Saturday 10-2 event. Bring something lunchy to share. I haven't nailed down the when or where. Would any of you churches like to offer your space? We need more table area than the Word Shop back room has. Kateri and I have had fun making collages with people from late elementary school age on up. Let me know if you're interested and I'll make sure you get the final details.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? There has been a dearth of info coming in for my IN THE SPIRIT column in the Sentinel. Does God go on vacation in August? Send me what you're doing. Send me what you're THINKING of doing. Send me SOMETHING. Please?
Blessings,
Alliee +