Book Review: The Jesus Way: a conversation on the ways that Jesus is the way by Eugene H. Peterson

The Jesus Way: A Conversation on the Ways That Jesus Is the Way
by Eugene H. Peterson
Published by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company in 2007

Summary and Review: This book is part of a series on spiritual theology which includes books discussing spiritual theology, the language of Jesus' stories and prayers, spiritual reading and how we live out that theology.  The Jesus Way is Peterson's effort to fully explain why in this modern world we should be choosing Jesus.  He doesn't candy coat by suggesting that accepting Jesus makes life nice and easy and prosperous; rather he acknowledges that the way of Jesus is a way of sacrifice, of failure, of being on the margins of society, of holiness.  These are the qualities that should set followers of Jesus apart from the rest of the world.  Unfortunately, Peterson observes, the modern church has failed to fully embrace these qualities and instead has embraced qualities of the world.  The book begins with an unpacking of the Jesus way and why it is the right choice.  The final third of the book has Peterson reflecting on other ways that one could choose to go and contrasting them against the Jesus way. 

This book, like all of Peterson's works, is very well written.  The presentation is cohesive and compelling as it moves the reader along, wanting to get to the next reflection.  The thought process behind the book is rooted in deep reflection on the Bible, theology, the person of Jesus, the state of our culture, and the state of the modern church.  Peterson, despite being a pastor in a mainline denomination, has an uncanny ability to step back and look at the church and society in a way that celebrates what we have gotten right, but equally challenges us on the areas where we have fallen short or gotten off course.  This book will challenge you on both an individual level as you consider the manner in which you have allowed the Jesus Way to guide your life, but also on a corporate level as you consider your church and how it reflects the Jesus Way.

Reading Recommendation: Yes, I have yet to run across a Peterson book that is not worth the time invested reading!

Book Review: The Folly of Preaching: Models and Methods edited by Michael P. Knowles

The Folly of Preaching: Models and Methods
Edited by Michael P. Knowles
Published by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company in 2007

Summary and Review: This book is a collection of material regarding preaching in the modern context.  It includes sermons preached, lectures delivered and essays written on the subject from some of the world's most renown preachers, teachers and lecturerers.  The material is grouped into four categories: the social dimension of preaching, homiletic method, the theology of preaching and finally sermons.  The social dimensions are kicked off by David Buttrick and include Tony Campolo's Preaching to the Culture of Narcissism.  This section reflects on the nature of preaching today, what we have lossed, what we have gained and the challenges we face in addressing congregations and culture in sermons today.

Homiletics are again kicked off by Buttrick and include Edwina Hunter's Imagination, Creativity and Preaching and Thomas G. Long's Taking the Listeners Seriously in Biblical Interpretation.  This section reflects on the nature of Biblical interpretation for preaching and the methods by which we deliver Biblical truths.  Theology is kicked off by John R. W. Stott who carries half the section while the other half is covered by Stephen C. Farris.  The goal of the section is for the reader to really consider the theological beliefs that drive their preaching.  Is there power in preaching?  If so, what is the source?  How is preaching different than teaching?  The final section is a collection of sermons delivered between 1993 and 2004.

The book is well put together in form.  It rightly considers some of the real issues facing preachers today as far as social context, method and theology, all topics that we need to spend time considering.  The second half of the book is sermons, which while it is nice to read examples of other's work, the preached word reduced to the written page loses some power in translation.  On reflection I would have prefered to read more on the three areas presented and less examples.  It would also have been nice to have a CD included where we could perhaps listen to the actual sermons while we read along with them.  Overall, a book worth reading.  It will challenge you and provoke you in ways that will have you considering just how you go about this process of preaching.

Reading Recommendation: Yes, an excellent collection of sermons, lectures and essays on preaching in the modern context. 

Sermon: Sunday, October 21, 2012

Greetings All,

Here is the audio file from Sunday's sermon.  It is titled Never Forget: Jesus Created the Universe! and the texts are Job 38:1-7, 38-41; Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35; Isaiah 53:4-13.

Your brother in Christ,
Faron

Sermon: Sunday, October 14, 2012

Greetings All,

Here is the audio file from Sunday's sermon.  It is titled Blinded by the Life! and the texts are Job 23:1-9, 16-17; Psalm 22:1-15; and Mark 10:17-31.

Your brother in Christ,
Faron

Recipe: Crawfish Corn Bisque

Greetings All,

Joy Bowen caught me in a lie when I told her that this recipe was on my blog.  While I thought it was, Joy was absolutely correct so we need to modify that situation ASAP because we can't let Joy be right for too long a period of time ;)  So here is this simply yet incredibly yummy recipe.  For those of you wondering where you can purchase crawfish, do not be afraid that you are only going to be able to find it at expensive specialty grocery stores.  Walmart actually stocks Boudreaux's Crawfish Tails.  One package is all you need for this recipe and it is generally less than $8.  Enjoy!

Crawfish Corn Bisque

Ingredients:

1 Med. Onion, chopped

1 Bell pepper, chopped (red makes a nice presentation)
1 Can of creamed corn
1 Tbsp. Tony Chachere’s seasoning
1 Can of evaporated milk
1 Can of Progresso Loaded Baked Potato Soup
1 12 oz. package of crawfish tails
½ Stick of butter or margarine
1 can of whole kernel corn, drained

 Directions:

Sauté onion and bell pepper in butter.  Cook for 10 minutes.  Add crawfish, corn, soup and Tony’s seasoning.  Cook for 20 minutes.

Sermon: Sunday, October 7, 2012

Greetings All,

Here is the audio file from Sunday's sermon.  It is titled The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly...Truth About Life and the texts are Job 1:1, 2:1-10 and Psalm 26:1-12.

Your brother in Christ,
Faron

Book Review: Tales from Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett

Greetings all,

I have been remiss in my efforts of maintaining this blog as of late.  I am way behind in reviewing the books I have been reading and posting the recipes I have been enjoying and in simply sharing devotional thoughts.  This morning I thought I would try to play a little catch up.

Tales from Margaritaville
by Jimmy Buffett
Published in 1989 by Harcourt Brace Jovanonvich Publishers

Summary and Review: I will start this review with an acknowledgement that this is not a new book, or even a recent book.  It is almost a quarter of a century old, but it is Jimmy Buffett's first book written for adults.  While he had previously written a couple of children's books with his daughter and some non-fiction periodical pieces that were extremely well received this is his first offering to the world of adult literature.  It is not, however, the first Buffett book I have read and it was reading A Salty Piece of Land and my lifetime of listening to his music that fueled my desire to read his first romp of substance into the literary world.  This is not at all like the novel that I first read.  It is basically a collection of short stories some fictional, some rooted in his personal experience and told in the first person.  Tully Mars makes his first appearance here as well as a entire entourage of characters that will warm your heart and create in you a longing to not only here more stories but also to begin to create some of your own.  Many of the stories are about the fictional island Snake Bite Key and the people who live there or grew up there.  We get to read about a high school football championship, a love affair between a young lady and a musician, prodigal sons and uncles returned and a mysterious swamp creature that lives by the golf course.  Much of Buffett's life has been spent in the south and on the road in little juke joints across the map of America and these stories reflect a love and respect for both cultures and the people that inhabit them. 

Reading Recommendations: Yes!  A great romp through a fictional world of characters mixed with some real life Buffett that makes you laugh, smile, and long for a moment of peace and serenity in a world where it is warm and full of adventure.

Sermon: Sunday, September 30, 2012

Greetings All,

Here is the audio file from Sunday's sermon.  This was our first Children's Sunday where we worshipped as a congregation with the Children's Church in the gym.  It is titled What God Sees and the text is 1 Samuel 16:1, 5b-7, 10-13a; 17:41-47.

Your brother in Christ,
Faron