Culture

By Lynne M. Baab InterVarsity Press, 2006 Reviewed by Bevan Lobley, who was keen to push his spirituality to a deeper level and look into the idea of fasting even though he loves his food. I found I went into reading this book with a little fear and trepidation – wanting and yet not wanting to hear what it said ...

Augsburg Books, 2008 RRP $29.95 Reviewed by Bill Adams. This is an excellent book, well written, well presented and refreshingly different from the spate of stuff that tells us we should indulge ourselves because “we deserve it”. The author, a minister and therapist, makes the point strongly that if we wish to find happiness that endures then it will only ...

Victor H. Matthews Paulist Press, 2009 $27.95 Reviewed by Karyl Davison.Part of the 101 Questions & Answers series, this little volume is designed to be used as a companion to designated portions of biblical text. In this particular case, the focus is on the so called historical books and historical materials in the Bible. In the first chapter, Mr Matthews ...

Canadian Edition 2010 Archdiocese of Chicago/Concacan Inc. Mary A. Ehle, Phd & Margaret Nutting Ralph, Phd CCCB Publications, 2010 RRP $21.95 Reviewed by Alan Renton, who, after 60 years of preaching, tried something new. The first nine pages of this book should be compulsory reading for all who take part in leading church services. The other 294 pages have a ...

By Simon Smart, Blue Bottle Books, 2008, RRP $19.95 Reviewed by Annet Maurer, a biography lover and a member of Hervey Bay Uniting Church. BRIGHT LIGHTS, Dark Nights follows a common format of short biographies of 13 Christian Australians, some of whom are known to many (Tim Costello and cricketer Justin Langer) and some known only in their community, such ...

By Mark Griffiths, Monarch, 2009, RRP $29.99 Reviewed by Paul Clark. ORIGINALLY WRITTEN as a doctoral thesis, One Generation from Extinction is the study of child evangelism, comparing the original Sunday School model with large children’s outreach programs of the UK today. This is a seminal work: one that speaks with authority to the church’s precarious position in Western society. ...

By Richard Harries, Darton, Longman & Todd, 2010, RRP $36.95 Reviewed by Karyl Davison. DO WE WANT to leave politics to the politicians? It seems that in recent years the predominant answer would be “Yes”. The general public seems to be increasingly disengaged from the political process and increasingly disillusioned with the motives of our political leaders. Yet, as Mr ...

By Krish Kandiah, Monarch Books U.K., 2008, RRP $16.95 Reviewed by Con Graves who, after a fast-paced corporate lifestyle, switched to a life of voluntary simplicity aimed at reducing his impact on the earth and reducing stress in his own life and the lives of those around him. He worships at Newlife Uniting Church on the Gold Coast. LIFE SWAP ...

Directed by Dan Merchant Zacchaeus Film Group 2008 RRP $14.95 Reviewed by Linda Hanson. This movie is great. It is funny, it’s sad (because it’s true), but most of all it is real and is relevant to our church today. The writer/director is a follower who loves Jesus and wants the world to see the Jesus he follows and not ...

Edited by Elizabeth Rankin Geitz, Marjorie A. Burke and Ann Smith Morehouse Publishing, 2000 RRP $38.95 Reviewed by Karyl Davison. What an amazingly beautiful collection of prayers from the voices of women. These wide ranging prayers speak from a women’s perspective, reflecting experiences and feelings that are very real; the ordinary experiences of human life. Despite the book’s title, many ...