A thought provoking read

I Am a Follower by Leonard Sweet

I received this book a few months ago, but didn't have time to read it beyond the first section. Over Christmas I treated myself to catching up. I am glad I did.

It is interesting how we, with all sincerity, get tangled in the latest fad. One such is the cult of the leader: taking charge and showing others the way. We can use role models like St. Paul or saints who led great movements in the Church. However, we usually miss the fact that that leader was in fact trying to do nothing else but follow Jesus. And that is all that Jesus asks of us: "Come Follow Me".

Sweet weaves his thoughts around Jesus' pronouncement that He is "the Way, the Truth and the Life". Using those few words, Sweet shows us how following Him is the fulfillment of all that Jesus asks of us.
While I am sure people are offering their best when they tell us how we should use corporate models of leadership to be more effective, that is not what we are called to. Sweet makes a persuasive argument to see this issue correctly.

Peace Be With You by David Carlson: A Review

Peace Be With You by David Carlson is a multidimensional book. It is at the same time a reflection on how we react / deal with terrorism, an apology for monastic life, and a biographical look at how one person came to terms with 9/11 in his own life.


At first blush, the main point of the book, forgiveness as a reaction to terrorism, is rather simplistic and perhaps pie-in-the-sky for all of us who consider the effect of terrorism, and the 9/11 event specifically, in our lives. Appealing to monks and nuns for a proper stance in our everyday work life seems naïve. However, there is an eternal truth that is at the heart of the book. If you accept Jesus’ teachings as a rule of life, there is no escaping that this is the path that He demands. Also, there is great wisdom (in my limited understanding) to the idea that darkness cannot overcome darkness: only light can. And that light comes with a conscious decision to forgive. This does not mean that we become a doormat on which any terrorist can walk. Instead, it is a decision that we do not let the pain and anger that come from terrorism control our thoughts and actions and reactions.

I read this book in the days surrounding the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 events, and images on TV reminded me of our country’s reactions to the attacks. Very little was said about understanding why we were attacked, but instead, a commitment to vengeance. Understanding might or might not have led us in another direction, but I believe it might have helped heal wounds quicker. I still don’t think most of us have a clear understanding of the history of the animosity between the radical groups behind the attacks and ourselves.

Carlson shares his journey of understanding and forgiving, which took detours through depression as he readily shares with readers. The personal journey gives credence to the path he suggests. The wisdom of the monks and nuns which is perhaps dismissed by many, helped enlighten the path Carlson took, and which he suggests to the reader as well.

Max on Life

 I have read a few books by Max Lucado. I enjoy his simple, straightforward and often humorous manner of writing. This book continues my enjoyment of Max' insights. It is a collection of his responses to letters he has received over time. This makes it easy to read a minute or two if you're pressed for time, or longer periods when you can tackle a series of topics. The topics, coming as they do from real people, feel real themselves. While I might not be worried about "Does God allow war?" I might be interested in a reflection on what to do when "groups in a Church compete and bicker and fight." The point is, whether you agree with his answers, he makes you think about a lot of good questions: questions that are on people's minds.

In Constant Prayer, by Robert Benson

When I first became aware of the book, I was attracted to what I thought it was going to be about. I had thought it would be an exhortation and advice on the concept of praying always, as St. Paul urges. I had hoped that it would inspire me to redouble my efforts and perhaps help me learn new ways and means to pray. Make it an even greater part of my everyday life. Take time from my schedule for my relationship with God. Instead, the book is about the Liturgy of the Hours, or Divine Office. I have prayed the Office for years, although mainly Morning Prayer and only on occasion. I do love the rhythm that The Office offers, and the fact that it opens up the Psalms to be prayed when I might not otherwise pay attention to them. And then there is the discipline. Benson offers a quote from a friend: "the three greatest obstacles to the spiritual life are inertia, amnesia and manana." The Office, done in community, gives greater motivation to be faithful to prayer, similar to how the Anonymous groups keep a recovering person the support and structure s/he needs to keep on his/her journey. I know I need to be similarly supported on my journey. So, even though the book was not what I was anticipating, this does not take away from its value. It makes a strong case, from anecdotes from various people's lives, about the value of the Office, and pleads (softly) for the reader to consider joining a community to pray. It is light reading, and made me rethink my commitment to the community with whom I infrequently pray.

Seeds of Turmoil

I was interested in Seeds of Turmoil by Bryant Wright because I had recently focused more on the roots of the conflicts we have been experiencing for years. The conflicts are between the main Abrahamic Religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity, and the lands that these Religions occupy, especially the Middle East.


Wright traces the history of the three Religions through the Holy Books that are at their heart. All three have a common ancestor in Abraham. I have found that many people are not aware of that. Wright then describes the views and beliefs of each Religion. He admits that he is prejudiced in favor of Christianity, since he is a Christian pastor. However, he does give valuable insights into the beliefs of each and how those beliefs have historically led to conflict.

Wright sums up his work in three questions:
1. Does God play favorites? Wright’s answer: yes. He quotes Malachi to say God favors Jacob and followers over Esau and followers.
2. Is God unfair? Wright’s answer: no. God is Patient and merciful to all.
3. So is the Middle East Conflict God’s fault? Wright’s answer: no. It is humanity’s fault.

But this summation should not keep one from reading the book. There is much history and scholarship in these 222 pages. Read them if you’re interested in the topic, and do a little research of your own to come to your own conclusions.

Outlive Your Life, a review

It is rather easy to write a book trying to convince people to do good for others. Appeal to their sense of guilt, heap on heavy portions of Scripture quotes and show lots of heart wrenching photos of kids with distended bellies and sores. As an extra touch, add stories of saints and modern day heroes who make it all look easy, and you’ve got a decent book.


In “Outlive Your Life”, Max Lucado takes a different, gentler, and frankly, more convincing job. There is little guilt heaped on the reader here. It’s impossible to totally avoid, but it is not his main point. He does quote Scripture, but not just the usual passages (like Matthew 25:34-36; whatever you did to these least of my brothers, you did to Me”). That quote is in there, but it is not wielded like a stick. And there are some statistics and stories illustrating the needs in the world. But just enough to make a point, not too much to make you say “Enough!”

Passages from the Scriptures come alive at Lucado’s telling. Descriptions of the early Church: not idealized, but very realistic. The apostles stumbling along in Jesus’ footprints. Stephen, Philip, Saul/Paul, all come alive in stories wherein Lucado gives parallels from today’s world. And then, the inevitable question: why not us? Why not you?

There is also quite a bit of humor sprinkled throughout the pages. Funny presentations of Scripture scenes, self effacing observations of how we tend to think of ourselves and our chances of doing something great. It all comes together very nicely in a quick and worthwhile read.

Max Lucado’s Cast of Characters

I received Cast of Characters in July, but left it behind as I went on vacation. Then it got lost among the accumulations of summer. I am so sorry it did. This is a delightful, humorous, but very poignant look at some famous and not-so-famous people in the Bible. I wish I had read it earlier.


Max Lucado re-introduces us to God’s “cast of characters”, showing us how ordinary they were, but how we can learn valuable lessons by watching them in the stories they enact in the pages of Scripture. There are the obvious, such as Peter, Job, Paul and Joseph. There are the obscure, such as Mephibosheth. And there are characters from parables who come alive in a fresh way at the pen of Lucado.

Through all these people, Lucado focuses not so much on them, but the God behind them: the “Uncommon God” in Whose hands we all are. We are urged to allow God to work us and work through us to do uncommon things, as He did with all the twenty plus examples in the book.

The book is an easy read, refreshing and challenging. Each chapter is followed by questions to help the reader (or a group of readers) assimilate the lesson offered by the character(s) of that chapter.

Treat yourself to Max Lucado’s Cast of Characters.

Jesus Manifesto - review

Jesus Manifesto is a short book and quick read, but it is full of reflections about the basis of our Christian faith. It challenges the reader to define what each of us actually believes in. Writing this, it seems obvious that what we should believe in is Jesus Christ. And yet, the authors show examples of people whose faith is based on causes, ideas, and ways of life that are inspired by Jesus, even in imitation of Jesus, but that are not Jesus Himself.


Reading along, I could hear Church meetings I have been part of and realize that as well-intentioned as those are, they were not focused on the basis of Christian Faith: the person of Jesus. And yet, in a number of places, I felt that the authors were setting up straw men and then shooting them down. Their perception that so many who call themselves Christians but who are in fact focused in the wrong direction may be a bit overstated. People may not be able to express the basis of their belief as eloquently as the authors, but that does not mean Jesus is not in their hearts. And at times the authors use too many quotes to support their simple point. But their simple point is a good one for all Christians to reflect on.

I received the book, written by written by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola, from Thomas Nelson Publishers via a website called BookSneeze.com. They sent me the book to review for free in return for my honest opinion.