Affirmations of the natural world in one man’s heartfelt Christian beliefs.
A series of reflections on Christianity and nature from debut author Warner.
Invoking natural wonders ranging from Zion National Park to the sublime simplicity of dairy cows, this collection of Christian musings takes readers on a leisurely walk through life and its challenges. In short chapters that tend to begin with the natural world and end with a biblical verse or teachings about Jesus Christ—e.g., “Christ did not come to make life easy, but to make people great”—the collection summons a fondness for figures such as Albert Schweitzer and John Muir along with an irritation for many of the worries of the modern world. Ranging from a chapter about the dangers of consumerism to a chapter detailing a lengthy conversation with an agnostic physician, the stories and musings include moments from the mundane and the divine. A chapter called “Hawk” begins: “The lake is a good schoolroom with many lessons for us, and for the creatures that live around it.” What starts as an observation of a hawk becomes words of advice for those struggling with faith. “God always has a better plan for us and we can find his way,” Warner writes, “even, or maybe especially when, we are discouraged and fighting an uphill battle.” Readers will easily imagine walking along the shore of Lake Erie with the no-nonsense yet genial author and his collie, Skye, as a developing weather pattern or piece of sea glass conjures a brief biblical parable, old hymn or simple statement of wonder. Though perhaps slow for readers seeking more fire and brimstone in their Christian texts, the book is instead geared more toward readers looking for meditative, folksy qualities in the writings of a fellow believer. Allusions to skipping stones and dairy farm chores may not illicit great moments of excitement, but they’re not necessarily meant to. Instead, the country contemplations will be calmly inspiring.
Affirmations of the natural world in one man’s heartfelt Christian beliefs.Pub Date: Dec. 4, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4918-3200-4
Page Count: 400
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Review Posted Online: March 18, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2014
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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