How to handle your life...

This is a nice little book just published by Christian Focus Publications. I am always happy to recommend Carine Mackenzie and find her children's books very reverent and biblically accurate. This book has 52 short chapters each using events from daily life to illustrate Bible truths. For example, one chapter describes a mountain walk and a blind man being led by his friend, Carine applies this to our need to trust in our heavenly guide during life's journey. Written for 6-11yr olds with Bible word searches and quizzes this could be adapted and used in many ways; personal daily devotions, family devotions, even short talks for children's groups.

My only hesitation is that as I read this book I sense that Carine is writing for children within the Covenant (as Presbyterians understand it). But this is subtle, Carine does not necessarily assume that the chidren are believers. Perhaps this may mean that some adaptation is required if used within children's groups with non-Christian backgrounds.

Having said that, I am still going to recommend this book as a useful addition to any tweenagers bookshelf as long as it is 'handled with care'.

Lorna

Abraham Kuyper

Inventor of the increasingly used term 'world view', but Abraham Kuyper is not a household name in this country. He is better known in America because of its large Dutch immigration, and their Calvinistic Reformed tradition. But I dare to say that there has never been a figure like Kuyper in the English speaking world - ever. Evangelical Press published a book by historian James McGoldrick called 'God's Renaissance Man', which I read on holiday to learn more about Kuyper himself, after reading his famous 'Stone lectures' on Calvinism. He certainly was immense in his influence in Holland, combining undoubted intellect with vision and energetic organisational skills. He was a theologian, a pastor, but then started his own newspaper to propound his views to the man in the street. He waded into the political mire and managed to maintain Reformed views in being a founding member of the Anti-Revolutionary Party, eventually becoming the Prime Minister of a government sharing power with Roman Catholics. A pragmatist too! He believed that all of life belongs to God. To quote: "No single piece of our mental world is to be hermetically sealed off from the rest, and there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: 'Mine!' " I fully agree. It is confessedly so by believers, and true of the natural man also, though in rebellion against it. McGoldrick attempts an accessible biography, and helpfully sets out the historical context in Holland and in international politics. He also assesses Kuyper's theology - his so-called 'sphere sovereignty' and doctrine of common grace. Perhaps this is a rather 'bitty' part in the book, and he very much judges Kuyper against the Standards of the Reformed churches, more so than the Bible itself in my opinion. The reader must judge! I feel Kuyper's danger was in creating a philosophy of Calvinism. It satisfies the mind in creating a logical framework, but comes to grief when going beyond the specifics of biblical revelation. But he was a fighter for liberty in his era - for instance, the recognition by the state of the right of parents to have the opportunity to educate their children in a christian context. And he achieved that. The establishment of the Free University of Amsterdam was his greatest triumph. Sadly, it gradually changed its course a good while after his death, but that cannot be laid to his charge. Admiration with reservations is my approach to Kuyper, but he deserves study - it will challenge you to think about life, the universe and everything so to speak!

Jeremy

Why?

Sorry to lower the tone somewhat after the last post. But can anyone tell me why it costs so much to send books by post to Europe? Considering that it is a near neighbour, rates are so high comparatively to sending books off to Singapore, Australia or the USA. Not only that, but to put the tin lid on it I sent books off to Holland recently and it was actually cheaper to send them airmail than surface mail! How come? Some consumer watchdog ought to have a sniff into all this mess and work out how much we're being conned.

Grumpy, but striving for contentment.

Jeremy

Hope... the best of things

Joni Eareckson Tada is someone I enjoy reading, ok so I may not go along with her theology on everything, but she has a definite insight into suffering. I thought I would share a quote from a little booklet recently published called 'Hope... the best of things', in which she writes about hoping in Christ amidst the trials of life. Here is one of her comments on Luke 9:23 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me':

My wheelchair is not my cross to bear. Neither is your cane or walker your cross. Neither is your dead-end job or your irksome in-laws. Your cross to bear is not your migraine headaches, not your sinus infection, not your stiff joints. That is not your cross to bear. My cross is not my wheelchair; it is my attitude. Your cross is your attitude about your dead-end job and your in-laws. It is your attitude about your aches and pains. Any complaints, and grumblings, any disputings or murmurings, any anxieties, any worries, any resentments or anything that hints of a raging torrent of bitterness - these are the things God calls me to die to daily.

Hope... the Best of Things, by Joni Eareckson-Tada, published by Crossway, £2.99

Lorna

Christmas is coming...

Okay, so we're only just past the middle of the year, but I'm afraid I am already up to my ears in Christmas cards and 2009 Calendars. Most of my Christmas cards have now arrived plus we have just taken delivery of next year's AV Block Calendar. I enjoy looking through everything and reminding myself of what I ordered back in January/February, but I don't want to wish time away so they probably won't get anywhere near the shop floor until October. Having said that, I have already had one customer ask to see Christmas Cards, plus we have received our first order for 2009 calendars! It's an up-side-down year in the retail world!

Lorna

Bible Alive Series

To complement the 6 books on the Life of Jesus in the Bible Alive series, Christian Focus Publications have just added 4 books on the life of Moses. Carine Mackenzie has (as always) written a biblically accurate set of books with just enough detail for the intended age group. This series is pitched at around 4-7 yr olds. I would recommend these to anyone who is looking for books for this age group.

Moses the Child, Kept by God

Moses the Shepherd, Chosen by God

Moses the Leader, Used by God

Moses the Traveller, Guided by God

£1.99 each

Lorna

August Highlighted Books

Because of the Olympic Games during this month, I thought that it would be a good time to focus on books with the theme of Christians and sport. This immediately digs up the old bone to chew over again - should Christians be involved in sport? It is closely connected with considerations like use of time, and what constitutes worthy entertainment - if in fact such a thing exists. Is it OK to participate in sport, but not be a spectator? Or are both merely forms of modern idolatry? If you have a talent for a particular sport (or indeed any other natural gift, from playing the piano to lion taming) then should you see it as God-given to use anyway, or only if you can clearly see how it can be employed for his glory? So many questions! So many opinions!!

One book I have featured was blogged on by me when first published. 'Running the Race', a new biography of the Olympic legend Eric Liddell. It is pleasing to learn that a translation of it has been given the permission of the Chinese Government to be distributed in China during the period of the Beijing Games. Well done Evangelical Press!

Perhaps the worst development in sport is professionalism. It drives the win at all costs mentality. It may increase standards, but mostly reduces the concept of sportsmanship and healthy enjoyment. It also brings great pressure along with the crowds of spectators. So I have also featured a book called 'Stress: Sources and Solutions' from a Christian viewpoint by a former Consultant Psychiatrist. I haven't read it in detail, but it obviously deals with a whole range of reasons for stress. Like me trying to shoehorn in this blog to introduce my August choices between decorating the bedrooms at home and testing a new stock and invoicing system at the bookshop. Must dash to get the dust sheets off our bed before sleeping in it!

Jeremy