The Old Man and The Sea

For a long time now I have felt that it might be a good idea not only to review Christian books on this blog but any book from a Christian perspective. I'm often aware of my own lack of culture, both Gaelic and English, and wish to do something about it. Travel often broadens the mind.

For the past six days I've been in Paris with my good friend Jason Lewallen. Ernest Hemingway came up a lot in discussion with Jason and other Americans I met, as well as his appearing in the film Midnight in Paris. So, when I was in Shakespeare and Company book store I purchased the book which won him the Pulitzer Prize, The Old Man and The Sea.

I read it within three days and I was really surprised at the sort of book it was. I had expected difficult prose with articulate language that would tickle the fancy of the intellectuals and academics among us and be lost on a simple lad from Lewis. What I got was a simple but graphic tale of a sad old man down on his luck and fishing alone when suddenly he has the adventure of a lifetime, and we with him, on his boat catching his biggest ever fish. The story is filled with love (of a young boy who cares for the old man who taught him how to fish), mystery, intelligence and experience, and tragedy. We are swept along the ocean given details most mundane but in such a way as that we are gripped and our interest held firmly until finally we reach the end of the tale where our man survives a hero in a humble community.

Try Hemingway. Tolle Lege.

My God is True!

Paul D Wolfe is a Presbyterian Pastor in Virginia, USA. When he was 28 years old and studying in Seminary he was diagnosed with dreaded cancer. This was a great trial for he and his new wife, Christy. They had been married less than a year. This book is his account of what he went through and how his understanding of the word of God challenged and helped him through it.

Having recently had a loved one going through cancer treatment this book really does consider the real trial that cancer brings into the lives of families. But it brings great comfort to the Christian that knowing who and what God is, and that he is sovereign over all things makes even cancer a trial that 'works together for good to those who love God' (Romans 8:28).

Wolfe writes:

There was a good fight to be fought, the fight against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and almost as soon as I was diagnosed we strapped on our boxing gloves. But we did so knowing that the outcome of that fight - whether the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat - was in the Lord's hands. We also knew that even if I lost the cancer-fight our heavenly Father would use that defeat to bring about the most thrilling victory of all: my entrance into the presence of my Saviour.

What a difference knowing the Lord makes! Whether in the trials of life or in death the Christian is blessed because of the life and death of Christ.

Wolfe writes in three sections about the diagnoses, the treatment and the aftermath. He gives his story then reflects on his experience through the teaching of scripture and gives great (though very American) illustrations and quotations from old writers like Calvin, Edwards and Dabney among others. The book is a very easy read (I read it in three sittings) with much encouragement and light for those in darkness - whatever the trial.

It really is a blessing for us all that Wolfe survived his cancer to produce this little book subtitled 'Lessons Learned Along Cancer's Dark Road.' Tolle Lege.

Preaching and Preachers

Martin Lloyd-Jones was a highly regarded minister of the gospel in England and Wales in the past century. Prior to entering the ministry he was a medical doctor of repute and often throughout this volume he refers to medical analogies.

Lloyd-Jones is of course a Welshman but he speak with one of those Welsh accents that you are convinced is posh-English. You therefore might expect him to be pretty dry. But this book betrays such an image. It is made up of Lloyd Jones’ mature thoughts (published after he had retired) on the work of the ministry - and particularly preaching. It is actually a transcript of lectures he delivered at Westminster Seminary and was printed in 1971. In the preface he counsels us to read them as his thoughts on preaching after forty-four years in the ministry rather than an authoritative guide on how to preach.

Throughout the book he qualifies much of his advice by saying that there can be no set rule and every preacher must find his own way of doing things. It is a great help if read in such a spirit. He covers most important themes - the primacy of preaching; how to select a text; the form of a sermon; the content of the sermon; the preachers attitude to the word; the preachers love for the people and many other major ideas. He also advises on more minor issues - to the extent of giving architectural advice to those who build churches!

All the lectures are given with a serious aspect where he gives genuine counsel to all in the ministry but there is also a great deal of humour mixed in. The stories from his own experience can be especially poignant and make the book a very warm read.

All in all a good book. A must read for preachers and a tonic for the 21st century pastorate.

On Saturday I read Max Lucado's Out Live Your Life. It's not often I read a book in a day. I wouldn't say I couldn't put it down but I can say I was happy not to put it down.

Lucado has written a lot of books. This is the 2nd one I have read. His style is readable and simple. This book is stimulating and encouraging.

It is about the book of Acts. Lucado wants us to realise that the group who began the work of the Christian Church two Millennia ago were straightforward simple men and women who went forward in faith and performed wonderful works under God. He claims that the Church today must learn lessons from and walk in the ways of these old Christians.

We are all ordinary just like the fishermen and tax-collectors of Jerusalem. We have to work together as a united group against the powers of darkness. We may be asked to give up much, even our lives, for the cause and kingdom of Christ. Stephen is a great example for the many throughout the world today whose lives are threatened because they believe in Jesus. What are we giving up for him? Compassion, humility, prayer and many other issues are shown from the Acts and examples are given of modern-day examples of the work and faith of individuals all over the world who try to fulfil the great commission of Jesus.

We need reminders of these things. We need to be encouraged to continue in the faith. We need to see that these men of God of old had the same faith the church of today has. God is still at work. The Church continues to grow after that initial explosion at Pentecost.

Let's see God in everyday life. Let's serve God in our lives.

The book concludes with the following:

None of us can help everyone. But all of us can help someone. And when we help them, we serve Jesus.
Who would want to miss a chance to do that?