The Liturgical Year

 

 The Liturgical Year

 The Ancient Practices Series

 By Joan Chittister
 Published by Thomas Nelson
 3 out of 5 bookmarks 

 

---

The Liturgical Year by Joan Chittister is a good introduction to the theology and history of the liturgical year and the basic cycle which it follows. She begins the book with a teleological defense of the liturgical calendar and observes that while most Christians religiously follow the civic calendar, very few afford themselves the pleasure of permitting their souls to dance to the rhythmic ebb and flow of  Christ’s  life on earth.

While I appreciate the basic premise of the book (that the life lived according to the rhythms of the liturgy is a life lived in harmony with the life of Christ) I found that the author’s discordant writing style a bit hostile to the rhythmic cycle which she described.  At times, I wanted to abandon myself to the rythm of  Christ’s life, but was simply unable to put the choppy writing style and disconnected thoughts to rest. Perhaps this is a problem unique to my own love of the poetic. I certainly don’t think that it should keep one from reading the book for themselves.

In the end, I gave this book three out of five bookmarks. The Liturgical Year is certainly worth reading and despite my personal bias against the author’s writing style, I found the book informative and the author to be well acquainted with the topic.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

At the Gate of the Year (re-post)

 I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied, ‘Go  into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God For that shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!’ So I went forth and finding the Hand of God Trod gladly into the night He led me towards the hills And the breaking of day in the lone east. So heart be still! What need our human life to … Read More

via Teleia Philia

Detoxification (re-post)

“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,  and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions,  and my sin is ever before me . . .”  (Psalm 51.3) Almighty maker of heaven and earth into whose hands all power has been given. You who stoop to my weakness and  offer your cleansing. Cleanse not only my feet, but also my hands and head. In my self-sufficiency I foolishly deny your bidding to wash me And in my self-righteousness, I join with the one … Read More

via Teleia Philia

Recessional- by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. (Psalm 78. 1-4)

 

RECESSIONAL

 God of our fathers, known of old—
Lord of our far-flung battle line—
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies—
The Captains and the Kings depart—
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

Far-called our navies melt away—
On dune and headland sinks the fire—
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe—
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard—
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding calls not Thee to guard.
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord!

Uncle Sam’s Plantation by Star Parker

Uncle Sam’s Plantation: How Big Government Enslaves America’s Poor and What We Can Do About It

By Star Parker
3 out of 5 bookmarks   

 In her book Uncle Sam’s Plantation, Star Parker chronicles her personal experiences as a self-professed ”welfare queen”. Throughout the book, Parker weaves her personal stories  into a well formulated argument against government dependency comparing it to the slave trade of early America. Her unique position as a  former welfare recipient who escaped the lure of government provision allows her to address the critical issues while remaining compassionate toward the poor who often find themselves in a position of needing assistance.

Parker does a great job analyzing the historical background of social services as well as their place in a Biblical worldview. She is careful to maintain a separation between the role of the state and the needs of the poor, and to promote the Biblical practice of requiring the poor, as much as possible, to work for their assistance.  She is also quick to point out that those who readily accept government assistance share some culpability in perpetuating the myth that the government is able to rid the poor of their problems simply by handing out paychecks and government services.

While I believe that Parker hits the nail on the head with her analysis of the effects of  “big government”, I found the book to be littered with grammatical errors and sloppy phraseology. Star Parker’s strength is her ability to think clearly and intelligently about the key issues- however, the publisher should have provided an editor to help her better articulate her thoughts. For this reason, I give it three out of five bookmarks. A subsequent edition could benefit from better editing. Despite this, the book is a must read for anyone desiring to escape the bondage of government assistance.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Boy Who Changed the World by Andy Andrews

The Boy Who Changed the World

By Andy Andrews
2 out of 5 boomarks   

The Boy Who Changed the World is a creatively composed children’s story of how one person’s actions affect those around him. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a number of characters who re-appear later in the story in an unexpected way. In the end, we learn that the actions of one small boy had a ripple effect on others who went on to influence the world in amazing ways. This is later explained in terms of Lorenz’s “Butterfly Effect”, a non-theistic theory which states that variations in dynamic systems are traceable back to seemingly unrelated initial conditions.

Despite having a handful of clever twists in the plot, The Boy Who Changed the World is not a book that I would recommend for parents who are concerned about passing a Biblical worldview onto their children. God’s role in this book is limited to that of designer and creator without being recognized as the hand of providence which guides and directs history. Rather than recognizing God as sovereign over the affairs of the world, it teaches that the great achievements which have advanced society are the results of human actions. Rather than presenting a biblical view of history, The Boy Who Changed the World presents a synchonicity between cherished Christian doctrines and secular humanism.

Despite the anthropocentric message, The Boy Who Changed the World does attempt to teach personal responsibility and self awareness of a child’s actions; and for this I give it two out of five bookmarks. If this book finds its way into your child’s hands, I would recommend supplementing the reading of the story with an explanation of God’s sovereignty over history. To do otherwise would be to teach your children that history is an unguided series of cause and effect events.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”