A heartfelt assemblage of encouraging Christian poems.
Baker reflects on the nature of God’s love in this debut poetry collection.
Dedicating the book “to those who desire to go on the adventure of discovering God’s heart for them and to get to know their own heart better,” the author notes that she first started writing poetry in response to “some of the challenges I had to face in my life.” Written over the span of more than two decades, the book’s poems cover Christian-themed topics that range from the benevolence of God (as in the poems “Loving Father” and “Jesus my friend”) to the joy that comes to the faithful who experience God’s grace (as in the poems “Celebration of Joy” and “The joy of the Lord is my strength (song)”). An entire section of poems was written during the the Covid-19 pandemic and accompanying government shutdowns; they emphasize the Christian virtues of courage, hope, and restoration. While most of the poems have traditional, Protestant interpretations, the book occasionally challenges orthodoxy. Reflecting upon Rembrandt’s famed painting of the prodigal son, Baker sees in the father’s hands both a male and female hand, which, she notes, “reminded me that our Heavenly Father has male and female characteristics.” Other poems are described by the author as “unashamedly autobiographical” in discussing her own doubts and spiritual “awakening” later in life. While this short volume consists of just over 100 pages, its more than two dozen poems are not designed to be read in one sitting; instead, Baker encourages readers to approach them as “devotionals, biblical meditations, and thankful prayers” designed to be reflected upon as a supplement to their faith. To this same end, the book’s appendix material provides uplifting Bible verses that inspired (or can be read in conjunction with) each poem. While non-Christians may not agree with the poetry’s spiritual premises, Baker’s non-judgmental, welcoming approach to the faith is refreshing.
A heartfelt assemblage of encouraging Christian poems.Pub Date: July 10, 2023
ISBN: 978-1973698876
Page Count: 122
Publisher: WestBowPress
Review Posted Online: Aug. 4, 2024
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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