Journey in the Wilderness: New life for Mainline Churches
by Gil Rendle
Abingdon Press. 2010. 176 pages.
REVIEWED BY Allen D. Timm
Last year a group of more than 100 young adults gathered for dinner once a month in a room over a bakery in inner-city Detroit. The Detroit Soup Project invited participants to donate $10 each and to present a project to improve Detroit. They would listen, debate and vote. After each meeting, one of them went out with $800 as a grant for a project that would improve the city of Detroit.
Sharing Possessions: What faith Demands (Second Edition)
by Luke Timothy Johnson
wm. b. eerdmans Publishing company. 198 Pages.
REVIEWED BY ANDREW FOSTER CONNORS
Luke Timothy Johnson, a first-rate New Testament scholar, begins with a plodding reflection on what it means for human beings to possess anything. Despite this beginning, this book deserves a serious reading. Johnson argues convincingly for an expansive definition of “having” that includes anything over which we claim ownership — relationships, time, principles, values and things.
Friending: Real Relationships in a Virtual World
by Lynne M. Baab
Downers Grove, Ill. InterVarsity Press. 185 pages.
re viewed by MARY HARRIS TODD
“It’s going to damage the way people communicate! It’s going to damage
relationships!” some 20th century experts worried when a new communication
technology became common in private homes.
Grand Entrance: Worship on Earth as in Heaven
by Edith M. Humphrey
Grand Rapids, Mich.: Brazos Press. 244 pages.
reviewed by RONAL D P. BYARS
The liturgist opened the service saying, “Let us call ourselves to worship.”
This is the eighth and final installment of the famed “Harry Potter” film
series. There are no more books to provide the basis for more, unless author
J.K. Rowling decides to take pen in hand again for the next generation – an
intriguing possibility which she distinctly leaves open at the end.
OK, so it’s not very exciting. But there’s a sublime kind of satisfaction to watching this
well-made documentary about one loggerhead turtle, who remains nameless, but for ease
of storytelling, let’s give it a shot: Deborah.
You have to enter with low expectations. This is an Adam Sandler comedy,
and Kevin James is in his overweight, slightly bewildered and occasionally
overwhelmed Everyman persona. He plays Griffin, who works at the zoo,
and is one of those “gentle with animals” guys who talks to them when he
feeds them and brings them little gifts just to do something nice for them.
by Marcus J. Borg
HarperOne. 248 pages.
reviewed by TIMOTHY B. CARGAL
Marcus Borg is a prolific writer of books that present a progressive (some would say “liberal”) approach to biblical scholarship and Christian life in a style easily accessible to a mass audience.
by Landon Whitsitt
Alban Institute. 176 pages.
reviewed by Leigh B. Gillis
What is this book about? Is it about church structure? It can be. Is it about church growth? Sure. Is it about the culture in which we live and the freedom we have in Christ? Definitely.
“Cars 2” is one of those sequels that works OK, but somehow fails to live up to the charm of the original. It’s sweet and harmless, but falls somewhat short of magical.
There’s good reason that Disney singer Selena Gomez is already a star: she has a winsome kind of down-home, girl-next-door charisma.
“Buck” is a documentary about Buck Brannaman, the real “Horse
Whisperer,” endorsed by Robert Redford himself. Buck is a sixtysomething
cowboy who has been hanging around corrals and barns all his life, who
does indeed have a remarkable way with horses.
“Larry Crowne” is a movie that “Can’t Miss.” First, it’s Tom Hanks, who’s
practically incapable of making a bad movie. He’s this generation’s Jimmy
Stewart, the Everyman whom everybody roots for and has affection for, and
we love him so much that we’ll even allow him his occasional moments
where he’s less than glamorous. Somehow that only adds to his universal
appeal.
This is one of those “niche” films that will appeal to a specific target
audience (mostly younger males), but have a very limited draw with other
segments of the moviegoing market (like grandmothers).
Wow, this one will put you through the wringer. Especially if you are a parent, and tried to raise a child, and realized full well that the “product” which emerges is its own person, over which you have painfully limited influence.
First, a disclaimer: this is a comic book hero that I loved as a kid. Maybe because he’s human, he has to use his imagination, and he’s part of a greater good. Plus, that requirement of having to recharge the ring every day gives rise to all manner of good analogies. (Fill in your own similes here.)
“Bad Teacher” is not worth your time. Now, the easy thing would be just to leave it at that. It’s a comedy and it isn’t funny. But the self-respecting critic buried deep within demands a fuller explanation. What makes “Bad Teacher” so bad?
Edited by Nicholas Perrin and Richard B. Hays
InterVarsity Press. 294 pages.
reviewed by David Renwick
N.T. (Tom) Wright, formerly bishop of Durham and presently at St. Andrews University, Scotland, is undoubtedly the most prolific New Testament scholar of recent years, and arguably the most important.
by Rob Bell
Harper One. 198 pages.
reviewed by LOUISE G. WINFIELD
“I’ve written this book for all those, everywhere, who have heard some version of the Jesus story that has caused their pulse rate to rise, their stomach to churn, and their heart to utter those resolute words, ‘I would never be a part of that.’”
The story line in this film might sound way too agenda-driven to be enjoyable: adult
son’s mother dies of cancer, then his father announces that he is coming out of the
closet.
There are some directors who shoot their movies in a way that you can’t even tell they’re
there.
by Gregory A. Love
Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books. 259 pages.
reviewed by DIETER U. HEINZL
In a time when the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) continues to debate what might be causing the decline in membership in American mainline denominations, Gregory Love takes a page from Karl Barth’s playbook to remind us of the Christian’s vocation: pointing to the risen Christ who reconciled all creation (which happens to include us human beings) to God’s self through his death on the cross.
edited by elizabeth Steele halstead, Paul Detterman,
Joyce berger and John witvliet
grand rapids, mich. william b. eerdmans. 288 pages.
Reviewed by Roy W. Howard
This extraordinary biblical commentary is like no other. What kind of commentary combines poetry, art, prayer, exegetical comments and theological reflections along with liturgical insights that strengthen communal worship?
“Midnight In Paris” is Woody Allen at his best: witty, affable, ironic and whimsical.
The great thing about prequels is that it includes everybody. You don’t necessarily have to be a big fan of the “X-Men” comic book series to understand what’s happening – and, hopefully, it doesn’t disappoint the die-hard fans too much if the backstory doesn’t meet all their high expectations.
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