Jeannie DuBose Beaver’s Pond Press, 112 pages This is a lovely and wise book by a writer who knows the deep things of marriage. The beauty is that Jeannie DuBose is skilled in the art of tenderness and knows how to tell honestly the rugged journey of any marriage. Not only does she speak of what draws two people together, she describes those forces that threaten to tear them apart over time. In short, this is a book of art. One can linger a long time over the author’s finely drawn illustrations that evoke her story of a marriage. What is even more remarkable about this story is the uncanny way it evokes the experience of love’s journey in anyone who is on that path. And it does so in a way that is never maudlin or merely sentimental; the journey of her marriage is an authentic one. That’s why others will recognize themselves in it. Long-term marriages are rare these days. DuBose’s artfully told story will give you a glimpse into the challenges of sustaining love over a lifetime. … [Read more...]

Samuel Wells Eerdmans, 112 pages Samuel Wells is well known for his preaching and works of practical theology. Not as many people know of his pastoral ministry, guiding the congregation he serves to be fully present with the most vulnerable of their parish that includes the wealthy and the powerful. In this small book, Wells brings his wise counsel to those seeking to live fully alive with wonder and purpose. Wells encourages us to pay attention to our place in the universe, for that is when one discovers humility. The language here is direct. “Be a person of wonder,” he writes. “Every day, discover more about God’s goodness, truth, and beauty — in Scripture, in history, in the world, in the universe … and call that praise.” What is especially welcome is the appeal to all people, though he clearly grounds his reflections in Christianity. Wells writes with a winsome spirit that is compelling. Who would not want to discover the kind of full life that he commends? One comes away … [Read more...]

J. Dana Trent Upper Room Books, 112 pages Thomas Merton once said all Christians should be content with being beginners. Life is beginning again and again. Those in the Reformed tradition might call this sanctification: the life-long process of growing in Christ that is only complete in our death. The author of this very practical manual begins with her own experience coming to the practice of meditation as a skeptic, wary of gimmicks. She describes how she moved through reluctance to acceptance that led her to regular discipline. Few of us can escape the rattle of a noisy culture and only the wisest know the perils of a noisy world. In such noise it is nearly impossible to hear the still, small voice of God — let alone the voice of our own longing for peace and participation in God. Dana Trent has developed this manual to help Christians distinguish between prayer and meditation. She skillfully guides readers through 40 days of experimentation with five forms of meditation: lectio … [Read more...]

Amy-Jill Levine & Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, illustrated by Denise Turu Flyaway Books, 32 pages In recent years Amy-Jill Levine and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso have taken to writing children’s stories based upon biblical texts. This wonderful pair and is enhanced by illustrator Denise Turu who provides delightful illustrations. In this telling of the familiar story, the Blues and the Yellows are people who never mix. They live in fear of one another and make a habit of avoiding each other. That begins to change when one of the Blues is in an accident. What happens after that, of course, is what makes this tale so delightful for families and children. In re-casting the story of the Good Samaritan, the authors (both Jewish) provide an opportunity to consider the meaning of friendship. What happens when neighbors who are strangers actually become friends? Children learn from their parents about how to engage those who are different from them. This book can be a great asset for parents who … [Read more...]

Marilyn McEntyre Eerdmans, 160 pages When asked what advice he would give to pastors, Eugene Peterson said, “Read more poetry.” He may have received and passed on that advice from Marilyn McEntyre, surely a kindred spirit who continues to probe the relationship between language and faithful practice. Her testimony to the power of words to form life is well-known from previous books, including “Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies.” In “When Poets Pray,” McEntyre attends specifically to the poets whose poems bear a remarkable resemble to prayers. Like the Psalms, they can be called prayer-poems. She has selected poets that together make a rich, diverse feast of voices: Denise Levertov, Wendell Berry, Mary Oliver, Robert Frost, Scott Cairns, Hildegard of Bingen, George Herbert and TS Eliot, among others, make an appearance. The poems would be a feast enough, but there is more. McEntyre is a skilled poet herself and a faithful Christian with a deep heart. She brings a subtle, … [Read more...]