Adorning the Dark: Maybe I'm more creative than I thought

But I don’t have a creative bone in my body. I can’t paint, can’t sing, dance, or play an instrument. I’m not a good writer or speaker. How can God use me?

Like most of the world, I have doubts about where I fit into the grand scheme of things. I worry that my efforts won’t be good enough, but try anyway only to prove myself right. I’m convinced that I don’t have what it takes, but am also desperate to prove to myself and others that if only I put in enough effort, something good will result. Sadly, I always seem to give up long before I’ve been able to force myself to put in enough effort.

And then I read Andrew Peterson’s book Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling and the Mystery of Making (B&H Publishing, 2019).  There was something about this book that inspired peace; I’m not sure exactly what it was, but I kept reading, waiting for the spell to be broken—but that just didn’t happen. One of the great mysteries, I suppose, of how God’s creation works. We’re called to be in community or relationship—with God and with others. God has a plan for each of us, and He calls us into that plan and, since we are created in the image of God, get to exercise a certain creative power. Your creative power won’t be the same as anyone else’s, and that’s okay. Take what you have, make the best of it, and become the you that God is calling you to be.

                                                           

That doesn’t mean that we can’t study someone else’s mysterious makings, quite the contrary, we should study what others have done. Peterson gives several helpful hints for how to maximize our creative powers. Study the things we like and the things we don’t like. We should create for ourselves, for others and for God. We should give up and never give up, be content with what we have done, but not give up on making it even better. Do it alone, but never forget to invite others into your creativity.  All these contrary opinions may not seem to make sense, but if you read the book, and ponder the wisdom found in the pages, things start to become much clearer.

I was so intrigued and fascinated by the authors writing style that it took me a while to realize that what he was saying was just as powerful as how he said it. I actually, after reading several chapters, went back to the beginning of the book to see what I had missed: it was a lot. And I have the feeling that if in a few weeks I were to pick up this book and read it again, that I what find a lot more wisdom.

I received a copy of this book as a member of the Publisher’s bloggers’ program. I was not required to write a positive review.

5/5

the insanity of sacrifice isn't really insane

A few years back I read a book about a certain type of insanity and was smitten by the author’s candor and writing style.  I’m usually not a fan of devotionals, but in the case of The Insanity of Sacrifice: A 90-Day Devotional, by Nip Ripkin (with Barry Stricker) (B&H Publishing, 2019) I quickly decided that I would make an exception. There are absolutely no regrets.

These devotions are based on people that Nik and his wife know, and events that happened to them, many of which happened when they were serving God in remote locations, where it must have seemed insane to be willing to sacrifice so much, until you realize that it would be even more insane to refuse to answer the God of all creation who is calling you into His service.

Here we learn about raw grief and bitter persecution, and come to understand that as strange as it might seem at the time, it truly is a loving God who allows certain things to happen, and then turns what seems like our darkest moments into proof-positive of His love.

And after hearing about God and His glory, on day 90, when it seems like we should be hearing something about God’s love for us, and how because of that love we can survive whatever comes our way—just as Ripken and so many others have done, we’re jolted into the reality of our faith, that just as Ripken and so many others have done, we too are being called into the insanity of sacrifice so that others may come to know Jesus.

As part of the Publishers Bloggers’ Program, I received a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive blog.

5/5

let's learn about shapes

Get your littles thinking early on, and they’ll be way ahead when they start school.  Colors, the family, but it’s important to teach them shapes also. And Which Shape Should I Be? by Pamela Kennedy with illustrations by Holli Conger (B&H Kids, 2019) may be just the place to start. 

                For each shape there is a little rhyme, along with a picture of the shape, and then several shapes with instructions to find the right one.  The vibrant colors and whimsical drawings will delight any child, so learning is a joy, not a chore.

                But there is also a life lesson here. As the child learns about different shapes, she also is taught that people are different shapes also, but that’s okay, because that’s the way God made each of us to be.  Instilling this lesson early will hopefully cut down on bullying later, and hopefully kids will learn that they don’t have to resort to extremes to get to what they think is the perfect body, because they’ll realize that they already have the perfect body for the individual that God created each of them to be.

                Designed for baby through 4 years old.

                As a member of the publisher’s blogging program I received a copy of this book, with the expectation that I would post an honest review.

                4/5

Narrative Apologetics: not an easy read for the typical layperson

I love stories. Everyone has one, and I enjoy hearing them. A person’s story gives me insight into who that person is, and what drives or motivates them. And from the perspective of sharing the gospel, your story tells me where you are on your faith walk, and gives me a place from which to start.

Alister McGrath, in his book Narrative Apologetics: Sharing the Relevance, Joy, and Wonder of the Christian Faith (Baker Books, 2019) writes about the use of stories to explain your faith. He draws heavily from the works of C.S. Lewis as well as J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” for examples of how extra-biblical stories can play a part in sharing the Gospel. And he also draws from the biblical accounts of the Exodus, (the hope of deliverance); the Exile, (Where do we really belong?); the Christ, (Rendering the love of God); and the Kingdom, (what do we really desire?).

I read through the book fairly quickly, because I didn’t take the time to head to the back of the books to refer to the several hundred footnotes. I would have liked to have seen more examples of practical applications, so this is probably not the book for a casual reader. Having said that, it would probably be useful as a textbook, or even as the basis for a Sunday School class, or a small group that wants to learn how to be more effective when it comes to personal evangelism efforts.

There is some useful information to be found throughout, and in chapter 6, dealing with the meaning of life, the reader is invited to ask questions such as “who am I”, “do I matter”, “why am I here” and “can I make a difference?”.   And when we are able to answer those questions, we are well on the way to developing a world view, worthy of any Christian.

I received a copy of this book as a member of the publisher’s Blogging program. I was not required to write a positive review.

3.5/5