Finally. I have a copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows with my name on it at Borders.
Well. Not at Borders yet. It's a month yet. But I finally remembered to pre-order, so now I won't be one of the poor Muggles stuck without a copy come July 21.
Just an HP nerdy moment. That is all.
And sidebar: No way I can finish 5 books in the next week and a half to meet my mini-goal. No stinkin' way. Ah well... accept and move on, I guess. :P
6.21.2007
6.16.2007
Welcome to my Velvet Elvis.
So I finished Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell today. I think it's funny how in some ways, it's on the opposite end of the spectrum from Imitation of Christ, and once again I don't embrace all of the ideas, but found enough good concepts to make me glad I read it.
By opposite, I mean that it's interesting how the one book encourages solitude, reclusion... almost hermiting away to be more spiritual, and shunning frivolity and such. (I might not be doing so well at explaining this) But Bell, on the other hand, encourages community and embracing and enjoying the beauty of life and this world. Perhaps there is a balance to strike between the two.
Some parts of the book, I wasn't so sure I agreed with, probably because I'm still trying to figure out where my theology lies on the delightful Calvanist/Armenian continuum (Bell is so not a Calvanist...). Others, however, I loved. Particularly the way he put Jesus into a historical context by explaining Jewish culture and the education it takes to become a rabbi, and the relationship of rabbis and disciples. It was very enlightening. Sometimes it's very easy to miss the significance of the cultural and historical details in Jesus' time, but when I learn more about them (like from Anne Rice's book a few weeks ago), it opens up a whole new layer of meaning. I see Jesus and my faith in a whole new way, and it's exciting.
Don't get me wrong though... Velvet Elvis is an interesting read, and really gave me more insight into the more postmodern/progressive/emergent church philosophy. And I appreciate that he states at one point in the book (actually, it's on the back cover too):
Because good reading is about just that... testing, probing, looking for truth where it might be found.
***
Another 5 books, and I will have hit my mini-goal! Woohoo! :)
But I'm starting Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire next, so we'll see if that can actually work. Maybe I will be reading four short ones in tandem with the first of the very very long HP novels then.
By opposite, I mean that it's interesting how the one book encourages solitude, reclusion... almost hermiting away to be more spiritual, and shunning frivolity and such. (I might not be doing so well at explaining this) But Bell, on the other hand, encourages community and embracing and enjoying the beauty of life and this world. Perhaps there is a balance to strike between the two.
Some parts of the book, I wasn't so sure I agreed with, probably because I'm still trying to figure out where my theology lies on the delightful Calvanist/Armenian continuum (Bell is so not a Calvanist...). Others, however, I loved. Particularly the way he put Jesus into a historical context by explaining Jewish culture and the education it takes to become a rabbi, and the relationship of rabbis and disciples. It was very enlightening. Sometimes it's very easy to miss the significance of the cultural and historical details in Jesus' time, but when I learn more about them (like from Anne Rice's book a few weeks ago), it opens up a whole new layer of meaning. I see Jesus and my faith in a whole new way, and it's exciting.
Don't get me wrong though... Velvet Elvis is an interesting read, and really gave me more insight into the more postmodern/progressive/emergent church philosophy. And I appreciate that he states at one point in the book (actually, it's on the back cover too):
"Don't swallow [this book] uncriticially. Think about it. Wrestle with it. Just because I'm a Christian and I'm trying to articulate a Christian worldview doesn't mean I've got it nailed."I can totally appreciate someone who acknowledges that we all, in some way, have something wrong in our line of thinking, and doesn't try to push his perspective as "the right one."
Because good reading is about just that... testing, probing, looking for truth where it might be found.
***
Another 5 books, and I will have hit my mini-goal! Woohoo! :)
But I'm starting Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire next, so we'll see if that can actually work. Maybe I will be reading four short ones in tandem with the first of the very very long HP novels then.
6.06.2007
Imitation of Christ / Ender's Game
A few thoughts on Imitation of Christ:
I really enjoyed this book... it was challenging, honest, and remarkably relevant, considering it was written by a German monk about 500 years ago. To think that after centuries this simple man's words have become arguably the second most read book in history (next to the Bible) is amazing! And all too often, they ring very true... like looking in a mirror of humanity.
I didn't agree with all of Thomas a Kempis' ideas. For instance, I think he really downplayed the importance of other people, constantly stressing the importance of solitude to the point of promoting reclusion. Yes, I would be the first to say that solitude is incredibly important, but I also know that life wasn't meant to be lived alone. People and relationships are complex and messy and frustrating... but in the midst of it all, frustratingly beautiful and vital to a whole life. God Himself decided it wasn't good for man to be alone... I don't think He would want us to isolate ourselves in the name of becoming more "spiritual."
Another frustrating thing about this book is that there were plenty of moments where I thought to myself, "that's just fine and dandy and probably very Christlike... oh yeah, and impossible!" Conversely, maybe the impossibility of truly imitating Christ -- even though that's what we're called to do! -- turns out to be the most humbling and freeing thing. To know that I could never live up to the standard save for the grace of God makes me breathe a little easier... feel a little more grateful. I'm sorry that he didn't focus on the grace more... there seemed to be an awful lot of "how to live a holy life"... a lot of focus on works.
Then again, the paradox. Seeing these ideals spelled out really shifted my focus. I would say this is an important book for Christians to read... there are some truly wise words in those 75 pages. Brevity, simplicity, and humility sum it up well. I will return to it often, I'm sure... if for no other reason, to thank God that I don't have to live up to that standard... but imagine how much better the world could be if we all at least tried...
A favorite gem of a quote from Imitation:
"Try to bear patiently with the defects and infirmities of others, whatever they may be, because you also have many a fault which others must endure."
Ouch. :)
***
On a less pious note (lol)... Ender's Game! I don't think I've picked up a good sci-fi novel since I finished my sf literature class last summer. This book reminds me of why I love good, well-written sf. Only two more chapters to go (sitting around all day recovering from a root canal = lots and lots of time to read!). I'm aiming to finish it tonight.
I'll jot down more thoughts when I'm finished, but two points that keep coming up while I read it:
1) Wow, this book can be disturbing. As dystopian stories should be. But I do like it when a book written over 30 years ago seems to predict technology and trends of the future... a mark of good, imaginative sci-fi and one of the reasons I like the genre in the first place. (Locke and Demosthenes... the original watchbloggers?)
2) I keep forgetting all the main characters are... kids. Like, Ender is 6 at the beginning of the story, but in my mind's eye, he keeps ending up older. Kind of like Charles Wallace in A Wrinkle in Time... and it makes the story that much more disturbing.
Off to finish it then! Assuming I don't... fall asleep.
I really enjoyed this book... it was challenging, honest, and remarkably relevant, considering it was written by a German monk about 500 years ago. To think that after centuries this simple man's words have become arguably the second most read book in history (next to the Bible) is amazing! And all too often, they ring very true... like looking in a mirror of humanity.
I didn't agree with all of Thomas a Kempis' ideas. For instance, I think he really downplayed the importance of other people, constantly stressing the importance of solitude to the point of promoting reclusion. Yes, I would be the first to say that solitude is incredibly important, but I also know that life wasn't meant to be lived alone. People and relationships are complex and messy and frustrating... but in the midst of it all, frustratingly beautiful and vital to a whole life. God Himself decided it wasn't good for man to be alone... I don't think He would want us to isolate ourselves in the name of becoming more "spiritual."
Another frustrating thing about this book is that there were plenty of moments where I thought to myself, "that's just fine and dandy and probably very Christlike... oh yeah, and impossible!" Conversely, maybe the impossibility of truly imitating Christ -- even though that's what we're called to do! -- turns out to be the most humbling and freeing thing. To know that I could never live up to the standard save for the grace of God makes me breathe a little easier... feel a little more grateful. I'm sorry that he didn't focus on the grace more... there seemed to be an awful lot of "how to live a holy life"... a lot of focus on works.
Then again, the paradox. Seeing these ideals spelled out really shifted my focus. I would say this is an important book for Christians to read... there are some truly wise words in those 75 pages. Brevity, simplicity, and humility sum it up well. I will return to it often, I'm sure... if for no other reason, to thank God that I don't have to live up to that standard... but imagine how much better the world could be if we all at least tried...
A favorite gem of a quote from Imitation:
"Try to bear patiently with the defects and infirmities of others, whatever they may be, because you also have many a fault which others must endure."
Ouch. :)
***
On a less pious note (lol)... Ender's Game! I don't think I've picked up a good sci-fi novel since I finished my sf literature class last summer. This book reminds me of why I love good, well-written sf. Only two more chapters to go (sitting around all day recovering from a root canal = lots and lots of time to read!). I'm aiming to finish it tonight.
I'll jot down more thoughts when I'm finished, but two points that keep coming up while I read it:
1) Wow, this book can be disturbing. As dystopian stories should be. But I do like it when a book written over 30 years ago seems to predict technology and trends of the future... a mark of good, imaginative sci-fi and one of the reasons I like the genre in the first place. (Locke and Demosthenes... the original watchbloggers?)
2) I keep forgetting all the main characters are... kids. Like, Ender is 6 at the beginning of the story, but in my mind's eye, he keeps ending up older. Kind of like Charles Wallace in A Wrinkle in Time... and it makes the story that much more disturbing.
Off to finish it then! Assuming I don't... fall asleep.
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