Easy to read and process throughout, this book delivers practical Christian advice for sailors.
A debut book offers a collection of Christian meditations designed for the seafaring life.
Spending 90 days at sea is certainly a daunting task for even those accustomed to such a proposition. How does one cope with the vast beauty, ever-present danger, and inherent loneliness? How do Christian sailors not lose their faith while dealing with the occupation’s hardships? Providing a guide of sorts for the sailor on a 90-day assignment (or “hitch” in nautical parlance), the book’s chapters are meant to be read slowly. As Reasoner tells the reader at the outset: “Go to sea with God! Please read this book daily, one day at a time, and both ponder it and employ it—this could be the voyage of your life.” Progressing slowly over topics that range from “Perseverance” to “Nautical Terms” to “Sobriety,” the chapters tend to present a nautical-related subject followed by a connection to God. A chapter dedicated to the subject of loneliness begins with the stark idea that “going to sea can be very lonely and isolating.” How might one handle such feelings? The author assures the reader that “the most effective way to manage loneliness is to turn to Christ. Think of Christ as a friend, someone who has been through it all with you.” Maintaining a tone of practical folksiness throughout, the gems of wisdom tend to be straightforward, though succulent for the true believer. Featuring a number of biblical quotations, sentiments are never far from supporting Scripture. Why should readers believe that their hard work will pay off? They need only look to Proverbs 16:3 TLB: “Commit your work to the Lord, then it will succeed.” All told, the book’s message is basic, though overwhelmingly positive. As Reasoner states in the conclusion: “I hope you dive into a deeper relationship with God as a result of thoughts generated in reading this.” Though such simplicity may not sway nonbelievers, readers who already consider Jesus an important companion on their voyages are likely to enjoy the pace and content of the provided contemplations.
Easy to read and process throughout, this book delivers practical Christian advice for sailors.Pub Date: June 29, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5127-4568-9
Page Count: 206
Publisher: Westbow Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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