5 comments about The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming.

1. Though a Nouwen classic, and one that many find life changing, I was left cold by what seemed to be a forcing of ideas into the parable of the prodigal and Rembrandt's painting. Both forms are open to interpretation, with is part of the appeal of parable and painting, but some of Nouwen's conclusions seem very out of the realm of both sources. As with most readers of the parable, Nouwen sees parts of himself in both the prodigal son and in the elder son. Nouwen then expresses a desire to be more like the father. These seem, 18 years after publication, to be well accepted interpretations. What is not common is Nouwen's assertion that both sons are examples of Jesus. Stretches like this left me questioning. Nouwen does have wonderful insight on how we miss so much joy around us and the struggle of forgiveness.



2. Purchased as part of a Bible Study subject; we are not all the way through the book but it has brought out many opinions and conversation. Good!



3. This book was enlightening and life changing. It's a wonderful, and I believe, accurate picture of Who our heavenly Father is: I think that God is often and very unfortunately inaccurately/insufficiently portrayed by our churches and elsewhere. The challenge is to become like our Father as Nouwen suggests. (I tried it at my workplace)! thank you so very much for making this book available at an affordable cost.
   Elizabeth Kaiser



4. My pastor mentioned this book briefly one day, and that same weekend, I found the book randomly in the book store. This is one of my favorite books, and it really provided me insights into the painting itself, the author and his struggles, as well as myself - seeing parts of each character in the infamous parable in myself. It taught me a lot simply by stating the obvious and articulating what I was feeling. Very beautiful, insightful, and wise. I felt like I was seeing myself for the first time after reading it. Highly recommended.



5. 
   I personally believe this is a great book. It helps you see the parable of "The Prodigal Son" from a different perspective and helps you realize that you can not only identify yourself with the prodigal son, but with the other two prominent figures in the story. Also, the book will help you see that it doesn't matter how far away from home or how many struggles you have in life, you are not so far away from your heavenly father. He will always be willing to reach for his son and bring him home.

5 comments about The Lost Painting.

1. Anyone interested in art history, and especially Carravagio's work, would enjoy this book. If the reader has visited Rome, it's all the
   more intriguing. Harr has done remarkable research on the period and the known details of Carravagio's life.



2. There's nothing terribly or conspicuously *wrong* with this book, but there are several things that prevent it from being the wonderful read it could have been, being, as it is, based on a great story that should have ensured an absolute page-turner.
   
   The first thing (which other reviewers have pointed out before me) is that Mr. Harr seems undecided on whether he wanted to write a novel or a work of nonfiction. He has written the latter, but trying (unsuccessfully in my opinion) to infuse it with some of the typical trappings of fiction thrillers, i.e. ending chapters with adrenaline-charged sentences or 'revelations', including a love affair, etc. This is unfortunate, because nonfiction, when presented in the right way (and not 'dressed up' as something else), can be as compelling as fiction. The example that comes most readily to mind is Deborah Cadbury's harrowing account of how the quest for Louis XVII, the boy king of France who went missing after the Revolution, was solved with the help of a DNA investigation. Unlike Mr. Harr, Ms. Cadbury didn't try to make the people in her book sound like characters from the Da Vinci Code.
   
   This approach forces Mr. Harr to try to make the people in his book (who are all real) 'interesting' in the way that a writer of fiction tries to make his characters interesting. I couldn't have cared less about the love life of Francesca Cappelletti, the sexy Italian scholar on a motorbike --- whose affair with Luciano, by the way, must be the most boring 'romance' to have graced the pages of a book in decades. Neither did I care about the personal frustrations of art restorer Benedetti, or English scholar Mahon's aversion to being hugged by women. Most of these people actually come across as being rather petty (e.g. the two young female scholars' unkind behavior towards the aged Marchioness at whose residence they make their discoveries), but even with these human failings exposed they just don't seem to be very interesting.
   
   The interspersion of a couple of chapters dedicated to Caravaggio's life felt a bit artificial, as if Mr. Harr was trying to fill up space. More substantial information about his life, or a better distribution of it throughout the book, would have been better.
   
   The other problem I had with this book was its lack of passion. It doesn't sound as if Mr. Harr is in love with any of his subjects --- Caravaggio, Italian paintings, the world of art scholarship. This is a rather dull read, as if the work had been commissioned --- a view borne out by Mr. Harr's admission that he had originally written an article, but needed a book project in order to avail himself of an invitation to the American Academy in Rome. I didn't feel the passion that seeps through the pages of, say, Antonia Fraser's biographies, or Thomas V. Cohen's wonderful account of 'love and death in Renaissance Italy' (which covers roughly the same period in which Caravaggio lived).
   
   Many reviewers have expressed disappointment in 'The Lost Painting' as compared with Mr. Harr's previous work, 'A Civil Action'. I can't comment on that, not having read it. All I can say is that 'The Lost Painting' is an informative read about a very interesting historical find, but don't expect an unputdownable book --- you'll be disappointed.



3. Jonathan Harr's "The Lost Painting," a step-by-step account of the history and discovery of Caravaggio's long-missing "The Taking of Christ," is a real page-turner. As some reviewers have noted, it is at times a little too novelistic for its own good, as when Harr meticulously details a certain art historian's eating preferences or belabors inconsequential facts about a student researcher's dilapidated car. But the book is so interesting and readable that those flaws are easily forgiven.
   
   Most annoying to me was the author's refusal to document any of his research (excepting a partial list of works consulted, at the book's conclusion). I suppose this caters to the current tendency to write non-fiction with the same character development and narrative flow of fiction, and to conceal along the way any indication that the author is imaginatively reporting findings from interviews and scholarship--presumably in case a simple reference or reminder of that fact might traumatize the non-scholar or break the narrative spell. However readable the result, I can't help but wax nostalgic for the (apparently outdated) courtesy of a footnote in the text, so readers could more easily trace sources and items of interest. I'll admit, this tendency is more of an annoyance with books like Ross King's "Brunelleschi's Dome," which was filled with tantalizing bits of information begging to be further explored. But I don't think an occasional endnote in this book would have been too much to expect, even from an author who clearly aimed from the beginning at a "best-seller" audience. And a few pages of photographs would have enriched this book considerably.
   
   That said, "The Lost Painting" is a fascinating tale that deftly interweaves the efforts and ambitions of scores of fanatic 'Caravaggisti' attempting to track down Caravaggio's painting and distinguish it from its copies. In fact, one of the book's many strengths is that it engagingly reveals to the non-academic the laborious and demanding, but often petty and cut-throat world of modern scholarship in the visual arts. I found myself constantly amused by the differences between this kind of research, which leads scholars across continents from one musty archive and museum to another, and the kind in why I engage, where most traveling takes place almost entirely within the pages of various readily-available books, and differs from scholar to scholar mostly in the itinerary of one's reading. And Harr does bring his interviewees and other characters convincingly to life. Perhaps the book's strongest virtue is its detective-story plotting and pacing, which is as flawlessly rendered as one could hope. Once I started reading, I could hardly put it down until I finished it. So don't start reading "The Lost Painting" unless you have a sunny chair in which to hibernate and day or two to kill.



4. Now, I loved A Civil Action. But one of the main reasons that that book was so great is because it had terrific villains. The Lost Painting, on the other hand, doesn't have a single antagonist, unless you count time, which I don't.
   
   Also, A Civil Action had a single madcap hero who relented never. The Lost Painting, by contrast, has at least three distinct protagonists (if you count the guy in the epilogue), who, for much of the tale, work serially and not together. Not to mention, they don't have much in the way of personalities.
   
   These are the main reasons why the so-called quest for Caravaggio's Taking of Christ makes for such a bad story.
   
   The only truly gripping part of the book is the epilogue. But this, alas, written prematurely as it is, provides no real conclusion, and so is also deeply unsatisfying.
   
   2005 must not have been a very good year for nonfiction efforts, as the New York Times named this weak tea one of the five best.



5. Jonathan Harr brings you into the world of people toiling to authenticate a Caravaggio. Their integrity and dedication to their profession is revealing.
   It is nonfiction so the ending lacks drama but we feel the satisfaction of the people involved.

5 comments about Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God (Active Prayer Series).

1. I present lots of workshops and retreats. A woman attending a recent weekend retreat introduced me to Praying in Color. Now, I plan to include some introduction to Praying in Color, and opportunity to try it, in future retreats. I'm also a church camp chaplain and think our campers will enjoy this unique way to be in relationship with God. I plan to order the "kids" version soon.



2. I have struggled with my prayer life over the years because I had difficulty staying focused. My mind would wander or I would be distracted by outside influences. Praying in Color has changed my prayer life! This technique has shown me how to stay focused without having to spend a lot of time writing in a prayer journal or trying to come up with the words. Along with my bag of crayons and paper, I am able to focus more on the subject of my prayers rather than the struggles I faced with the actual praying process. Thank you for introducing me to a new method of praying that changed my prayer life! I now pray with more frequency and more focus than ever. I find myself sitting in meetings doodling and praying as I listen to the subject. I ASK to pray for others which I was so hesitant to do before. Thank you for being a blessing to others by sharing this innovative and creative method.



3. This is a quick read, but don't underestimate its value. It is inspiring and helpful, if you ever find yourself "stuck" wondering how or what to pray - particularly if you're asked to pray for someone in a tough situation. This takes your rational, analytical self and sets it aside, so you can pray with your heart and emotion. You don't have to say "the right words," or even draw "pretty pictures." It's liberating, and fun!



4. One of my favorite lines was "if prayer is a credit course in the kingdom of heaven, I'm in trouble. The report card grade of C- would probably say not enough detail, wandering attention, too many clichés, too little time and effort, too self-focused, too much fidgeting, too much whining."
   This is a book about "praying with the right side of your brain." Sybil MacBeth draws a new path to God by sketching her prayers. This way she can visualize her prayers better all day long. They take the shape of geometric figures and then she places the name of the person she is praying for in those. Or you can put the names of people you need to make amends with or your shortcomings in the circles and squares. The possibilities are endless. She uses colored pencils, but you can do it with pen and ink. She saves those ubiquitous calendars we all get for Lent and draws a different prayer for 40 days in the boxes. The book cleverly starts with chapter -5 and goes up to 16. I read it in one sitting tonight. It is very well written for a MATH teacher.



5. This book offers a way of visualizing prayers that has made a definite impact on my daily prayer life. The act of writing down names of those for whom I am praying brings them closer to my mind and helps me concentrate on each as I pray. I recommend it as a help tool for those looking to enrich their prayer life

5 comments about Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling.

1. There are many things in the 21st century that we take for granted as an artist. You need paint, you just run down to the local Home Depot, and 5-gallon drums will be produced within a matter of minutes. A new commission may have the most difficult task of having enough room in the back of your truck to ship all your supplies. If you need scaffolding, you simply call up the local rental agency, and they'll deliver it to your location, or perhaps even a battery-powered cherry picker will be available to make going up and down with your high-powered paint sprayer even more convenient.
   Such were not the amenities of Michelangelo, which makes everything that Ross King describes to you even more amazing that Michaelangelo pulled this masterpiece off. The political and personal turmoil of the times adds the necessary human drama to a story that easily could have been a play-by-play logistical explanation of fresco-making. Pope Julius II plays the standard overbearing Godfather of Catholicism, perpetually making the artist, Michelangelo, jump through hoops to pay for the artist's overt attitude earlier on with the Pope. The warring regions, passing plagues, and toxic art materials creates the danger of the Rennaisance at that time, as well.
   So enjoy an expanded education on one of the most amazing ceilings ever created by Mankind, and be entertained the entire time!



2. nice treatment and history of michangelo and his world at that time i enjoyed all the information and how it was presented.



3. Words cannot describe this incredibly detailed, superiorly written book. I just finished reading it, and I felt admiration and amazement, not only for the writer, Ross King, but for the feats of Michelangelo. If you've never travelled, let alone to see the Sistine Chapel, this book serves as detailed 'tour literature'. Chapter after chapter is filled with historical occurences as one would expect, details of Rosselli chipping away the old fresco to prepare for Michelangelo's masterpiece (dare I say, words cannot even describe the awe of his work-although Ross King does it well) to where Michelangelo bought his paint, and how he managed the design. I was amazed at the little details though (what I enjoy about history). King discusses how the plaster was made (page 84), for example, and the 'chemists' who mixed them. Mostly, one should understand from this reading that the art seen crowning the Sistine Chapel is not the work of one person, but a team. The 'truth' in history can get twisted. That reason alone is why it is important to study it- continually. It should also allow one to engage in an appreciative approach as to why it is so extremely important to preserve historical art. For me, this was the first book I've read from this author, and surely, it will not be my last.



4. delightful reading. It sparked interest in art history, and was alot of fun looking up all the art pieces in the internet. Very mixed about the vicious politics out of which all this precious art was produced, and yet thankful that they have been preserved.



5. After living down the street from Michelangelo's home in Florence, I sought additional sources for the man's actual life. Many of us learn about him and think of Michelangelo only in his old age, but this book brings to life the young man who was basically forced into creating one of the most impressive artistic masterpieces in the world. The book is easy to read, narrative, and absolutely fascinating. Ross King's attention to details of history and art is very impressive and I feel like I have gotten to know the people he describes in this book.
   
   I was so impressed with this work that I purchased all of the other Ross King books on amazon and I can't wait to read them all!

4 comments about Maria: Pope Benedict XVI on the Mother of God.

1. 
   As a Catholic, I am once again proud to call Pope Benedict our(not just mine) German shepard. This wonderful theologian reminds us through the Gospels and Art in paintings and places of adoration of who and how important Mary is to us. Why God picked her and how she was instrumental with the Apostels in the formation of our comunion. His visit to the Marien shrine in the hills above Ephesus,Turkey (Mary's house), brought home to my wife and I our visit to the site three years ago. We knew it was a special place. But now I know why. And more importantly why Mary is our Mother."Women behold your son."



2. This book is absolutely spectacular, filled with gorgeous color photos. It was a gift for my Mother and she adores it.



3. The first page of this book alone blew me away. It is the most beautiful, yet easy to understand, piece written about Mary I have ever encountered. Benedict taks a complicated subject like Mary and explains her in a straightforward way that reaches to our heart. I teach theology to teenagers and I work with both Catholics and non-catholics in study groups. I have shared passages with each group and all thought the passages were beautiful. I highly recommend.



4. Many of the pictures of the madonnas i have never seen before. Also about in the middle of the book a truly great picture of Pope Benedict the 16th. An A+ book all the way .

1 comments about The Hours of Catherine of Cleves: Devotions, Demons and Daily Life in the Fifteenth Century.

1. This volume is a catalogue of an exhibition held at the Morgan Library and the Museum Het Valkhof in Nijmengen. Its centerpiece is the display of about 100 pages of the "Hours of Catherine of Cleves". This famous illuminated manuscript, created around 1440, was commissioned by Catherine of Cleves. The book, previously separated, was purchased by the Morgan Library in two parts; in 1963 and 1970. The book was disassembled for the exhibition, enabling the viewers a rare opportunity to see the individual pages.
   
   The first section consists of informative essays concerning the book of hours, its unknown creator and Catherine of Cleves. The initial illustrations relate to objects featured in the decorated pages as well as other attractive contemporary illuminated manuscripts. This is followed by the leaves from the Hours of Catherine of Cleves; these are presented as enlargements. The greater size allows the reader to savour the exceptionally inventive and intricate marginalia as well as the glorious illustrations. Some of the pages have text whereas others consist exclusively of paintings. The greatness of the Hours of Catherine of Cleves makes many of the preceeding manuscripts, fine as they might be, seem somewhat tepid.
   
   Although I have not seen the originals, it seems that the colors as reproduced appear natural and truthful. Certainly the quality appears vastly superior to those published in the elderly George Braziller edition which, though showing the pages in the actual size, has colors that seem harsh and unnatural. Additionally the general printing standard of the book under review as well as its paper quality are well above average. This glorious book should be an obligatory purchase for all enthusiasts of illuminated manuscripts.

2 comments about Making Crosses: A Creative Connection to God (Active Prayer Series).

1. This was an impulse buy-one of those you bought this, you might like this suggestions. Am I ever glad that this purchase was made. The book is quiet and humble in it approach, but the impression it leaves is great. It is the right amount of organization, evangelization and artistic know how. It is a good book for a foundation in teaching a class about cross making or using it to explor your personal faith.



2. A charming new book from Paraclete Press, Making Crosses: A Creative Connection to God, by award-winning Memphis writer Ellen Prewitt, can change your perspective on the way you interpret everyday things. This book is a guide for finding and using simple, sometimes discarded, perhaps once-loved, objects and pieces of your life and prayerfully incorporating them into a focal point - a cross. As Prewitt guides the reader into the process, she gently reminds us, "it is not our purpose to make a beautiful cross," but instead the purpose is to lead us into our own theology, how we think about God. When participating in one of her workshops, her statement that when we work on a cross the cross begins to work on us, struck me as absolutely true. After reading her book, I cannot go for a walk that I do not pay closer attention to objects that I pass, or things that may block my path. Items that I may have once thrown away suddenly have new value. Readers are drawn into the beauty of God's creation as we look for items to incorporate into a cross, and I am continually amazed at what God Brings. As Prewitt says, "Trust the one who knows the secrets of our hearts and whose joy it is to give them to us." Ellen Prewitt has certainly brought joy into many lives, and continues to do so, through "Making Crosses".
   Making Crosses: A Creative Connection to God (Active Prayer Series)

5 comments about A Brush With God: An Icon Workbook.

1. It is easy to get confused by the various icon source books that have been published. I would strongly recommend this book as a very good "starting" place. Even if you never paint an icon, this book gives you enough information so that you feel comfortable with the concept of an icon (you may, of course, never feel quite comfortable with religious images that are the object of veneration or as a gateway). Icons are mysterious. So are myths. It is the mystery that is in the icon image that argues for attention. Treat them as "just" art if you wish. Remember, they are of the people and have helped keep civilizations alive for good or for evil.
   
   As a final question: can you REALLY paint an icon without some type of faith and will the power of the artist come through to you? The author writes very well and simply about this subject.



2. This is an outstanding book. I am new to iconography and found the instructions easy to understand and follow. The author not only provides clear and concise instructions on how to "write" an icon, but also explains the methodology used and the underlying spiritual meaning. Great book. I highly recommend it. Easy to read and very informative.



3. I am an embroiderer, not a painter, nor icon writer, so I will avoid the egg wars. This book has vital information for a start into the understanding of iconography, spirituality and tradition that I can learn to use in embroidery. Fr Peter himself and the book in particular are very helpful in my journey. AnneG in NC



4. This is a small book and an amazing one at the same time. It manages to squeeze a lot of information in a small space. Yet the images are large enough to really examine and enjoy. There is good explanation of icon writing
   as well as some interesting comparisons of Byzantine and Greek imagery. Print size is ample, colors are good.
   I would recommend this book to anyone beginning a journey towards understanding icons.



5. I love this book! I created the icon of St. Nicholas using the books instructions, and got positive feed back on it from my "extremely honest" family and friends. The materials required are readily available and the directions are clear. Most importantly, the spiritual experience during the process was incredible. I can't wait to do the other two icons in the book. However, I do believe you need to be confident in your artistic skills to be successful and avoid frustration. My only criticism is the lack of pictorial examples. I had to refer to another book to understand the difference between the Greek and Russian style.

5 comments about Basilica: The Splendor and the Scandal: Building St. Peter's.

1. You know the old saying," You can't judge a book by it's cover." Apparently, the Basilica is an enormous example of the old adage. This book is a historical account of the building of one of the most well known structures in the world, St.Peter's Basilica. Before you pooh pooh the idea of reading another boring history book, hold on... this is a story of deceit, love, art, blackmail, envy and greed. The story spans the history of the Vatican from 1505-1667,the 150 years it took to conceive and build the Basilica. The story begins with Michelangelo,a young 31 year old artist, fleeing from Pope Julius II's, horsemen. It quickly intertwines the story from the temperamental cast of 8 Popes and artists such as Michelangelo, DaVinci,Bramante. The architectural design is so unique to the period that many of the delays involved inventing new construction techniques to achieve the desired product in the end. This brought on competition and more conflict.
   I went to the Basilica before reading this book. When I saw it I thought,"I've been there, it is breath-taking!" Then I checked it out at the library, read it, looked it up on Amazon,purchased it . This is something I wanted to own. It has a time line, architectural drawings, 2 appendixes and a great index. The next time I went to the Vatican, I went to the Sistine Chapel and missed the Basilica. I still want to go back! RA Scotti has really given the reader a wonderful new perspective of the truth behind the Vatican and all that it means without spoiling (even enhancing appreciation for) the experience of entering the hallowed halls of the Basilica.



2. What a great read! Once I started, the conclusion of one chapter made me turn the page and start the next.
   
   A solid history of St Peter's, but also a wonderful telling of the history of the Catholic church and the string of popes who are associated with it and their chosen artisians who collectively create the cathedral.
   
   While reading Scotti's book, I yearned for a trip to Rome to see it first hand.



3. Before you read the book, know that even with all the sniping of some of the reviewers, this is an entertaining and thoughtful book. I doubt that Ms. Scotti went out of her way to make any mistakes as to the materials used or how the building was constructed. But nowhere in the book does she ever claim to be an architect or to have studied architecture. It would seem that her main purpose of writing this book was to explain how and why, then in what manner the building was constructed.
   
   Pope Julius II (who thought of himself as the 'new' ceasar) decided to replace Constantine's Basilica of St. Peters with something even more extravagant. Why he would tear down a twelve hundred year old building is beyond question one of the most egotistical destructions up there with Stalin's tearing down of the major churches in Moscow and replacing them with a pool. But Julius was a man after his own heart and no one was going to get in his way.
   
   That the renaissance popes were about as corrupt as could be (one was a bastard, another the grandson of a pope) profligate and a study in all seven of the deadly sins is unassailable. That the connivance of the curia and the priesthood to fleece the multitude to pay for their lavish life styles and to build the Basilica are truisms. How much the cost
   of St.Peter's contributed to the selling of indulgences would be speculation but we do know that the sales are one of the major reasons that Luther stated in his '95 Theses'.
   
   Read this book for the story, because a story it is and not as a history or architectural study and you will enjoy it.
   
   Zeb Kantrowitz
   [...]



4. This book is a light read but does a good job in telling the story of the building of St Peters and the flawed and all too human characters who were involved in its building, including several Popes and the artists Michelangelo, Bramante, and Raphael. If you are planning to visit St Peters this book would add much to your enjoyment and appreciation of it.



5. I read R.A. Scotti's book on the left of Mona Lisa and found it fascinating. This book, Basilica is proving to be informative and fascinating as well. Her writing is clever, giving lots of information, but not making it like a university text book, which can be so boring. She makes it all very interesting. She obviously has studied her subjects deeply and puts the information forth in a way that's enjoyable to read.
   
   I love history and this is a wonderful way to learn it.
   
   I will read more of her books!

5 comments about Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts.

1. Yes, I am a speed reader--but 15 minutes? I didn't learn anything that I didn't already know, and that was disappointing. I suspect that this little book is actually a sermon that was written down and published. Here it is: Four points based on Exodus 31: 1) The artist's calling is from God 2)God loves all kinds of art 3)God maintains high standards for goodness, truth, and beauty, and 4)art is for the glory of God. The book elaborates briefly on these points. This is not a bad book; in fact, I agree with the premise, it is a topic that is important, and the little tome is well-written. If you know nothing about the topic, this book is an excellent morsel to whet your appetite. If you have any knowledge at all about the subject, better to pass on this one and look for something more substantial. This might very well be the book for you, it just wasn't the book for me.



2. Dr. Philip G. Ryken [...]
   
   offers a profoundly simple and highly practicle approach to an ever increasing need for good christian arts in cafe, stage, gallery, musuem, church, and/or home. In an ever changing world where lines all blur from art, medicine, science, new media, and technology dare we consider a view from the unchanging great "I AM" as central to our being and Art itself?
   
   The need and desire to create art has always existed in man regardless of age, faith, creed, or sex and regardless of utility/gestalt, sacred/profane, and/or symbolic/representational intent.
   
   This book traces the very steps back to the first and greatest Artist: God. And it recalls the account of the first divine calling for man to Create art, not for the sake of art but as the duty to G-d and his fellow man.
   
   Those who are chosen for lives dedicated to the Arts in all its forms will be kindly instructed and soundly inspired by the contents of "Art for God's Sake". This book offers a G-d's eye view of the arts and its significance to the artist, the culture, and G-d Himself.
   
   "Art for God's Sake" is a delightful and insightful read that will illuminate your mind like a jewel, making undim and vivid a brilliant new approach to the arts. Discover what really lies in the eye of the most high beholder. Will you answer the challenge/call to reclaim the arts and do all things in His name and for His Glory?



3. This book prompted me to sign up for a painting class in my area. It challenged me to stop wasting my gift; God gave it to me and it's my responsibility to cultivate it.
   
   Dr. Ryken does a wonderful job pointing out the importance of the arts and the role the arts should play in our society and the Christian community. He may push some buttons for those who see the arts only as an avenue for ministry -- thus the subtitle, "A Call to RECOVER the Arts".
   
   RECOVERY seems to have as its foundation DISCOVERY which will require Christians to take the time to learn about the arts and do some hard thinking about the role they should play in the Church and a believer's everyday life of worship of a God who remains the consummate artist.



4. This was a short essay on the topic, not much to it, a little bit of repeat for me from reading The Creative Call.



5. Well written support for my purpose - visual arts as expression of love of God's creation.