1 comments about For Such a Time as This: Maria Woodworth-Etter Her Healing and Evangelizing Ministry.

1. If you want a historical account of Woodworth-Etter's life, one that names campaign dates and locations along with positive and negative newspaper reports and personnal trials you will be satisfied. Though it was obvious that Warner did much research, the book did not read well. It lacked organization. He jumped from one event to another, then back again much too often. I never really got a sense of her heart, who she truly was. I had hoped to be inspired through this book. The only inspiration came in the endnotes; excerpts of writings from her book (Marvels and Miracles). One thing I did learn from this book is that in America, Christians are persicuted by other Christians.

4 comments about The River of Grace: The Story of John Calvin.

1. My 8 year old read the book in two days lots of great history of the Reformed Faith. Highly recommend it.



2. I was delighted with this sensitive biography of John Calvin. McPherson writes simply to children, not down to children. She begins in John's childhood, and touches on the events and issues of his life. She shows his thoughts with frequent quotes him from his letters and other writings. This book is a great introduction to the life and heart of a great reformer, and an excellent work.



3. Like most protestants of my generation (at least the ones that I know), my knowledge of church history is...dismal. Anything that happened between the book of Acts and 1980 is a fuzzy area for me.
   
   So although The River of Grace: The Story of John Calvin is written for young readers, I still learned a lot.
   
   The River of Grace traces Calvin's life from his boyhood to his death in Geneva in 1564, from his early studies for the Catholic priesthood to his conversion and his eventual leadership in the Reformation.
   
   Calvin's beliefs and his objections to Catholicism are incorporated into the story but not belabored. I'm sure this was to keep younger readers from getting bogged down. Readers will still walk away with a better understanding of the peril Calvin and his friends were under in their work to teach and make the Scriptures available to the people.
   
   Learning about church history gives me a greater appreciation for the sacrifices that have been made by others to advance the Kingdom of God. My faith is strengthened as I am reminded to never take my freedom to worship for granted.



4. After reading two of Joyce McPherson's other books, I knew I was in for a treat when I picked up River of Grace, the biography of John Calvin. While the language is easily understandable for a child, it holds the interest of the adult. I have even seen my husband, who rarely picks up a book, reading this one. John Calvin is famous as a theologian, but I found out lots of things that I didn't know about him. It made his life come alive for me.

No comments about Wounded Childhood, Womanhood, Attempted Murder, Here for a Purpose.

1 comments about Emma Curtis Hopkins: Forgotten Founder of New Thought (Women and Gender in North American Religions).

1. Emma Curtis Hopkins: Forgotten Founder of New Thought, by Dr. Gail M. Harley, is a major contribution to scholarship on New Religious Movements in America and especially the American New Thought movement. It is a must read for anyone interested in the New Thought Movement (Unity, Religious Science, Divine Science, Universal Foundation for Better Living, INTA, and other related groups). Harley's style is clear and straight-forward yet scholarly in its depth and precision of analysis and explication. Uncluttered with meaningless details and free of jargon, Harley's work on Hopkins is certainly accessible to average readers. Dr. Harley also tells the story of Hopkins' remarkable life in such a way that it comes alive for the reader. At times, Harley's biographical narrative reads like a good novel -- a real page turner. The new findings about Hopkins' work that Harley presents are destined to lead to reevaluations of the history of the New Thought movement -- infact, the book itself represents a major reevaluation of that history. To Dr. Harley's subtitle, this reader would add only: "forgotten no more" -- thanks to Dr. Harley.

3 comments about Moses: A Memoir.

1. 
   
   Joel Cohen has written a special book that personalizes Moses and brings him to life. Cohen's account forces the reader to reflect on our everyday challenges and to realize that they are part of life. Cohen weaves historical and biblical context in a very modern treatment of Moses. If you think your pack is heavy, Moses and Cohen make it seem much lighter. Terrific piece of work. This is one author that should consider quitting his day job.



2. Although I am not an expert in the field of bible study and while my writing is mostly confined to trade journals, this work provided tremendous insight for me into the inner thoughts of this complex individual who led the Jewish People during a monumental period in their history. No doubt an expert in Bible Studies would also benefit from this structured, well written book. It certainly encouraged me to get my bible off the bookshelf.



3. Although not a biblical scholar, I was intrigued by Ralph Blumenthal of the New York Times' glorious review of Joel Cohen's interpretation of the inner thoughts of Moses. Unable to discern from the review whether "Moses: A Memoir" was a scholarly work, a novel, or a psychological treatise I was fascinated enough by the concept to put the book on the top of my reading list. Needless to say, as anyone who is fortunate enough to have read the book, it is all three. Mr. Cohen brilliantly weaves biblical passages in and out of stunningly written prose, leaving the bilblical neophyte, such as myself, wanting to go back and re-read the bible, and the biblical scholar with much to ponder and debate. This book is a gem.

5 comments about Teresa of Avila: The Progress of a Soul.

1. I noticed the previous reviews of this book are all over the place from 5 stars to 1 star and almost equally balanced in those ratings. But I think this book is for a particular audience and in that light is an excellent book.
   
   I think the audience for this book is for the person, not previously introduced to St Teresa of Avila. When I purchased this book to read some 6 or 7 years ago, I chose it over the autobiography "The Life of St Teresa of Avila by Herself". Why? It was easier to read. I could not put down the book once I started. But to preface this, I have to tell you my knowledge of St Teresa was of the "levitating saint" - I did not know anything else about her.
   
   This book clearly introduced a living, breathing human being "warts and all." It also revealed in some ways, Teresa's strengths and weaknesses from a very understandable point of view, and showed how she grew into holiness. In my words I would describe her as a naughty (extremely lovable kind of naughty), astute, amusing, charming, practical level headed woman. If it's one thing the general public needs to know about Saints is, they did not fall from the sky as perfect human beings, neatly tied up in a box ready for heaven. I was able to discern the writer's opinions and see a person. In this light, this book is not a dogmatic expose of the sanctity of Teresa's soul. Therefore to my way of thinking, this should not be the only book you ever read about Teresa of Avila. As I have titled this review, it is an introduction to her.
   
   Very soon after reading this book, I did read the autobiography and between the two books have come to admire this beautiful and strong woman now declared as a Doctor of the Church.
   
   Short description: This book is like a 2 hour movie thriller that gives you pretty good facts about the subject at hand. The autobiography "The Life of St Teresa of Avila by Herself" is more like a 16 hour mini-series filling out the missing details.
   
   My recommendation is to read both books, starting with this one if you don't already know her. The struggles she faced and overcame will inspire your own life.



2. Well researched and well written the author avoids going too far into mysticism or Catholicism or hero worship, presenting a balanced, informative, fascinating account of an amazing woman in (by our standards) strange times of Christian fighting Christian (Catholics vs. Protestants), Christians fighting Moors, Catholics fighting Catholics (Carmelites, Franciscans, Dominicans), men suppressing women, the poor vs. the rich.
   And the Inquisition.
   Teresa, a truly amazing woman; strong willed, smart, able to reform and instruct, leader, and mystic. Oh yeah, and some times she would levitate.
   You can read this biography without having to be admitted to the Catholic Church first. An excellent place to start if one wants to go further into Teresa's own writing as the biographer places everything in context of religion and history while telling the story



3. It's very well written, clear, and gives an overview of what was going on during her time. It gives you a good picture of how Teresa was and how savvy she was in her dealings with the church and the male leaders. She was a woman navigating in a male dominated world -- something every woman can identify with. I would absolutely recommend this as a great introduction to a very interesting saint.



4. One of the hardest things for biographers to do is to convey the personality and essence of their subject while still effectively describing the chronology of the person's life. This book focuses almost entirely on the latter. Teresa was a woman of extraordinary humor and intelligence, one of the great wits of the Church, yet this book seems mostly concerned with cataloguing even the most temporary contacts she had with other people. Clearly the author did a huge amount of research into the Spain of Teresa's day. But it comes across as though she felt compelled to include every last name her research turned up, often without explanation as to who the person was in the larger context of Teresa's life.
   The author mentions that she is writing as a non-Catholic. Although that could have been a useful new perspective, and certainly prevents her from fallling into a kind of sentimental hagiography, in this case it means that she doesn't understand the most important thing in Teresa's life. In fact, the author makes occasional minor errors concerning Catholic practice and belief that tend to cast doubt on the accuracy of the whole book. For example, she says more than once that Teresa "said Mass." Even without a moment's research into the saint's life and times, I can assure the reader that Teresa never said Mass in her life. That was (and is) reserved for priests in Catholicism.
   
   If I didn't know better, I would have said after reading this book that Teresa was a querulous, rebellious, somewhat mean-spirited nun. But having read her own work as well as other biographies, I know she was in fact a witty, brilliant, yet humble daughter of the Church who would quite literally have died rather than commit any infidelity to Catholic teaching. There is a habit among some modern biographers to try to impose their own value systems on their subjects. It is as though, having found a person in history they admire enough to write about, they can't bear for that person to hold beliefs the author doesn't approve of. Though Medwick isn't the worst offender, she does miss the boat when it comes to Teresa's beliefs, which, after all, are the core of who she was.



5. I think that Medwick may have written a book that will manage to completely please very few people who read it. While it talks about the development of her spiritual history as a historical event, it is not a book that focuses on Teresa as mystic visionary. On the other hand, while it contains much historical background and fact, it also elides and skips over much that would have been interesting-- presumably in the interest of making it a quicker read appealing to a broader audience. While I was fine with the direction Medwick chose (there has been enough said about Teresa as mystic) I felt like some sections were frustratingly incomplete and occasionally the treatment of the background was too superficial.
   
   For instance, while a lot was said about her struggles with the church hierarchy, I found that Medwick gave surprisingly few details about the tangle Teresa had with the Inquisition. We know that the threat was hanging over her. We know that she was reported to the Inquisision. We even know the name of her enemy. However, she elides quite a bit of what surely must have been a historically interesting time in the life of Teresa as she actually faced Inquisition scrutiny. In her (successful) effort to make Teresa approachable as person, Medwick at times nearly lifts her out of history. It takes more than interpersonal relationships and anecdote to make a historical biography.
   
   I am sorry to begin the review with criticism. I am sorry because, while I see the flaws with the book, I still feel like Teresa of Avila is a loving and obviously well-researched treatment of a subject which is very difficult to approach in a neutral way. Medwick is to be commended for the effort that she put into it, and the way in which she managed to make readable very alien customs from a very different age. The book is very interesting indeed when she places Teresa in the context of Spain and the Spanish culture. She does a very good job of communicating why Teresa is one of the two patron Saints of Spain.
   
   Medwick talks in her introduction about how long she has been researching this book and her notion of Teresa as a soul in progress. Both points are interesting. If I had to guess, I would think that many of the gaps were unintentional and that Medwick had so much material that it was edited down at a certain point to try to make it more readable for a popular audience. Too bad, whatever happened.
   
   Truthfully, this book is more a three star book, but I am rating it for four stars both because of the fascinating subject matter and because I truly believe that the flaws should not dissuade you from reading the book if you have interest in the Saint. It is still a readable and admirable effort, whatever else.

5 comments about Love Can Build a Bridge.

1. This book was an inspiration in so many ways! I read the paperback, and now I want to own it in hardcover! It is uplifting and even if you are not a huge Judd fan, it is still a story that will touch your heart and encourage you as a woman to help you through adversity of many different kinds. There is FAITH, HOPE and LOVE in these pages!



2. After hearing that Naomi went to Eastern Kentucky University- where I graduated from with a degree in nursing, I wanted to buy her book. I was touched at all the obstacles that she had to overcome. Like being a non-traditional student. I was a Resident Assistant at a dorm for non-traditional students. I admire her courage to stand up to the plate and go for her dream. This courage and drive has been transmitted to Ashley and Wynonna too. They are all very powerful and inspirational women of faith!
   I have included her book in my listmania, "Books That Have A Bang!"



3. Drama Queens!!! Wow!!! A fascinating story, but maybe more "story" than "truth", eh? In any case, a good read. Fast, compelling, and lively. A plot twist on every page. The television mini-series didn't live up to the book. Would have been better as a Big Screen Movie. Two thumbs up!!



4. After reading this book twice, what I have to offer is this: EVERY AUTOBIOGRAPHY IS A WORK OF FICTION, AND EVERY WORK OF FICTION IS AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL. Ditto for this book.



5. After reading this book twice, what I have to offer is this: EVERY AUTOBIOGRAPHY IS A WORK OF FICTION, AND EVERY WORK OF FICTION IS AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL. Ditto for this book.

3 comments about To Africa with Love.

1. "Passion" is the best word to describe the level of commitment of the Foulkes family to serve as medical missionaries in Zambia. The depth of their sacrifice, the length of their desire to reach people with the Truth, the height of their faith in God, and the width of their love for God's people were passionate. I could not put the book down, and when I had finished, wanted to share the book and its message with others. This family touched my family deeply, even before the book, as my grandmother had been a prayer warrior for them while they were on the mission field.



2. This account of a mission established, accomplished and continuing is not only inspiring but dynamic in overcoming obstacles and rejoicing in successes. It challenges one's faith
   to endure and soar through Christ's help. Difficult to lay the
   book down!



3. This book really inspires me to be a better person for Christ by helping others. I won't ever be a doctor and probably can't ever visit Africa, but this book takes you there without ever leaving your home. What Dr. Foulkes has been through losing some of his family and staying in Africa to make sure the people were brought the message of Christ is truly heart touching. I think this is a wonderful book and recommend it others.

5 comments about Learning True Love: Practicing Buddhism in a Time of War.

1. Sister Chan Kong is truly a living bodhisattva. Her selflessness, generosity, and meritous actions shine through the words of her autobiography. In adversity, she tirelessly sought to improve the conditions of others and ease their suffering. The book left me wanting to know more of her life. Each picture that I have been able to find of her is a face of serenity, peace, and calm. I have a greater understanding of the suffering of the Vietnamese people.



2. I ordered the book for a class and it came on time and in good shape.



3. I had the amazing pleasure to meet Sr. Chan Khong and her prescence and life has definitely been an inspiration to me.
   The book is highly recommneded!!!



4. I totally disagree with the "library journal" review. Not only was this book inspiring, heartwarming, and unique, it told a tale of a woman who defied so many odds by transforming her suffering into the desire to help others move forward into peace. I have read many books by Buddhist scholars before, but none as simple and biographical as this. It was heartbreaking at times; hearing about killings, learning about lost loved ones, learning true love, all of this is conveyed in such a way that you feel you're actually there.

   There is no broken English in this book, I don't know what the review is talking about. There's only one typo that I found in the entire book, and it was typing error, not a grammatical one. This book should be on your priority list: if you give it a try, you'll find that you want to keep it in your collection forever. It's a priceless concentration of thoughts that move and inspire you, both to touch suffering and not to despair when faced with challenges.




5. This is the autobiography of a Vietnamese Buddhist nun who spent her life trying to help people whose lives were devastated by the wars. Because of her close association with Thich Nhat Hanh, it is to some degree an informal history of his activities as well. One of the most interesting aspects of the book is her frustration with the American peace movement. Her life (and his) are both quite inspiring, so this is a challenging and uplifting book. I would happily recommend this book to anyone interested in Vietnamese Buddhism, the war and the peace movements, or Vietnam in general.

2 comments about The Autobiography of a Seventeenth-Century Venetian Rabbi.

1. The Autobiography Of A Seventeenth Century Venetian Rabbi is a unique and interesting book. It is unique in that it is one of the only autobiographies ever written by a rabbi of such stature. The book is very interesting due to the inside view it gives the reader into Jewish life in the Italian ghetto at that period in history. Not often do we find such a marvelous first hand account of history.

   Aside from the holistic historic perspective it gives, the personal life of Leon De Modena is an amazing story of survival. His tragic life is reminiscent of the life of Job. The book also gives us a clue of Leon Modena's genius and talents as an author, scholar, playwright and poet.

   The book contains two parts; one, the autobiography itself (highly recommended). The other part consists of various essays on the autobiography, the author and the historic outlook.

   In the essays Leon de Modena was portrayed as a typical product of the renaissance period. Leon de Modena was by no means "typical".

   The essays also describe his autobiography as a characterless, objective perspective. In fact the book is full of personal feelings and emotions.

   The lame attempt in the essays to define and describe Leon Modena's character is an understatement of the largest scale, bordering the term 'insult'. Leon Modena's life was so colorful that no artist can paint the colors, no writer can read his limits, and no book can define his character.





2. The Autobiography Of A Seventeenth Century Venetian Rabbi is a unique and interesting book. It is unique in that it is one of the only autobiographies ever written by a rabbi of such stature. The book is very interesting due to the inside view it gives the reader into Jewish life in the Italian ghetto at that period in history. Not often do we find such a marvelous first hand account of history.

   Aside from the holistic historic perspective it gives, the personal life of Leon De Modena is an amazing story of survival. His tragic life is reminiscent of the life of Job. The book also gives us a clue of Leon Modena's genius and talents as an author, scholar, playwright and poet.

   The book contains two parts; one, the autobiography itself (which I highly recommend). The other part consists on various essays on the autobiography, the author and the historic outlook. In the essays Leon de Modena was portrayed as a typical product of the renaissance period. Leon de Modena was by no means "typical". Another flaw is the manner in which the essays portrayed his autobiography as a characterless perspective, when in fact the book is full of personal feelings and emotions. The lame attempt to define and describe Leon Modena's character which is found in the essays is an understatement of the largest scale, bordering the term 'insult'. Leon Modena's life was so colorful that no artist can paint the colors, no writer can read his limits, and no book can define his character.

   
   For comments, contact: Eli Bernstein 6B Kobelke st. Dianella 6059 WA Australia