1 comments about Out of India: A True Story about the New Age Movement.

1. For those who think the New Age has come and gone with no lasting imprint on our culture, a new autobiography by Caryl Matrisciana, who was raised in India and is now a born again Christian, will change your mind. Some forms of Hinduism have permeated even our churches. It's hard to imagine, but it's true. For anyone who wants to connect the dots on the emergent church, spiritual formation, catholic mysticism and mantra meditation, and understand how these practices are impacting today's church, you've got to read this book!
   
   OUT OF INDIA - A Review
   What do Fortune 500 companies, Oprah Winfrey, and the Star Wars movie franchise all have in common? The answer might be surprising to some, but the common thread is Hinduism. Many Fortune 500 companies today offer yoga classes as a regular employee benefit; Oprah Winfrey often has programs on both her TV and radio shows which espouse a mystical, Hindu worldview; and George Lucas' very popular Star Wars series has entranced millions of unsuspecting teens with the eastern idea of a neutral, universal energy called "the Force" which anyone can tap into and use for either good or evil.
   
   Caryl Matrisciana's new book, Out of India, is a very thorough apologetics resource on how dangerous - and rapid - the permeation of Hindu thought into our American culture has been. In reading through this book, it occurred to me that no other occultic practice or cult group in today's American culture has had such wide-reaching influence: not the mormons, not the seven day adventists, not the jehovah's witnesses, not catholicism. It's almost impossible to pick up any newspaper or magazine today and not find at least one (and usually more) articles on some version of a Hindu practice, whether it's meditation, yoga, astrology, vegetarianism, reiki, guided imagery, visualization, or ayervedic practices like color therapy, aromatherapy, naturopathy, acupuncture, or acupressure.
   
   Even more alarming, there is also a version of this occultic, Hindu mysticism that is regarded as Christian (yet is anything but) which has been steadily creeping into Christian churches, colleges, and seminaries all over the country. The most obvious form of this is in the emerging church, which is a sort of New Age version of the church. The heresies espoused by the emerging church are usually easy to pick out, even for most Christians today, and even after a generation of being exposed to watered down teachings via the seeker sensitive church which has left many with little or no discernment. You don't have to have taken a course on systematic theology to be able to discern their heresies because they are pretty self-evident: the emerging church denies the substitutionary atonement, the virgin birth, and the exclusiveness of the gospel. Even if we as Christians haven't studied these doctrines in depth, we at least tend to know enough to understand that you can't mess with these Biblical concepts of how we are made right with God.
   
   On the other hand, there is a more covert form of mysticism which is slyly packaged under various Christian sounding names before being presented to unsuspecting Christians: spiritual formation, ancient future, walk to emmaus, labyrinth, lectio divina, contemplative prayer, centering prayer, and Jesus prayer are just a few of these practices, and they can be found in many churches today.
   
   Why is this mysticism so dangerous to Christians? For starters, the Bible strictly forbids occultic practices. But it's not occultic! someone might exclaim who has just signed up for an Ancient Future class at their church. After all, if their elders approved it and their pastor recommended it, then how could it possibly be a bad thing? Well, saying that something is Christian doesn't necessarily mean that it is Christian. Remember the Israelites who grew weary of waiting for Moses at the foot of Mt. Sinai? They coaxed Aaron into creating a golden calf for them to worship. Did they call this calf "O False Idol of Gold!" No. They called it God and they worshipped it as God. (Exodus 32:1-6) It's just that it wasn't God.
   
   Personally, my biggest issue is with the practice known as contemplative prayer. This practice originated not with the apostles but in catholic monasteries 200 years post apostolic times (about the time the first real heresies to threaten the church were gathering momentum, including Gnosticism). Contemplative prayer employs the use of some type of mantra device to control and quiet the mind. This is an occultic practice and is taught no where in scripture. It doesn't matter if the mantra used sounds Biblical (for example, "Jesus" or "Abba") just like it didn't matter to God that the Israelites tried to pretend their golden calf was really God.
   
   The first reason this type of non-Biblical prayer is so dangerous is that it opens the practitioner up to a demonic realm through which powerful deception can occur. This can be confusing and frightening to the Christian, but can have even more devastating eternal consequences to a non-believer seeking God who is told by a pastor or elder that this is a good way to get closer to God. Why? For starters, we approach God ONLY through the shed blood of Christ. ("Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.") Nowhere in the Bible does someone enter a mystical state and then have a supernatural encounter with God. Are there supernatural encounters with God in the Bible? Yes, plenty of them: God revealing himself to Moses, to Jacob, to Saul. But did these men prepare themselves in some way for their supernatural encounters? No, Moses was tending sheep, Jacob was sleeping and Saul was traveling along a road. God may choose to reveal Himself but it is always at the time and place of his choosing. If anyone can enter a mystical state and meet with God, well, what's the point of the Cross then? The entire book of Hebrews speaks to this.
   
   The second problem is that the practice of contemplative prayer almost always leads to a panentheistic worldview and a universalist theology. This is very bitter fruit indeed. I practiced what is known as contemplative prayer for years, and let's just shine the light of truth and call this practice by its real name: Transcendental Meditation. TM and contemplative prayer are identical practices. When I was in my early 20's and searching for God, some friends of mine who claimed to be Christian introduced me to the practice of meditation. I knew of meditation in only a vague way, as an eastern practice. No, my friends assured me, this is a Biblical practice, and it's been around for centuries, the desert fathers of the ancient church preserved this tradition for us, and it's how to experience God, really experience God. And it only takes 20 minutes to do it! Well, who doesn't want to experience God? I was all in. That night, I followed my instructions and had my first meditation session, the first of many, many more to come over the next 10 years. I was hooked on it immediately. It seemed I had connected with God in a way my Christian upbringing had never allowed me to. I had a very powerful, seemingly supernatural encounter that left me utterly convinced that I was experiencing the presence of God. In hindsight, I believe that this encounter truly was supernatural. Satan is a liar and a deceiver, which means he doesn't show up and say, "I'm Satan! And I'm here to really mess up your life!" No, he doesn't announce his plans; he's deceptive and wants nothing more than to deceive and destroy those made in God's image. He is even given free reign on this earth to masquerade as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). Satan was more than happy to give me an "experience" if it would turn me away from the one true God.
   
   Something else happened during my first meditation that I didn't realize until years later. I came out of that FIRST meditation session with an altered worldview. Now think about that. In the space of 20 minutes my worldview shifted dramatically. Prior to this meditation experience, as far as I was concerned all spiritual choices were still "on the table" for me: Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, paganism, etc., etc. But after I had come out of that first meditation, the Christianity of the Bible was no longer on the table for me. Why? Because Christianity is the only religion with such unbending and exclusive truth claims. ("I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life....no-one comes to the Father but through Me.") And meditation counters this claim by generating an experience where a person feels a profound sense of oneness with all and interconnectedness that "feels" counter to that exclusive truth claim. This is panentheism, and it is the bitter fruit of mysticism. The bad news doesn't stop there: panentheism generally leads to a theology of universalism, the belief that all paths lead to God. After all, if we're all made up the same divine inner essence, then we all must experience God in different ways unique to our cultures. I began to embrace more and more of my friends' new version of an "enlightened Christianity," one in which we approached God through mystical means, not the blood of Christ.
   
   The reasoning of universalism goes something like this: What kind of cruel capricious God would deny entry into heaven just because someone has never heard the name of Christ? Universalism is the only way God could truly be loving. But as Pastor Ray Comfort [...] says, people don't end up in hell because they have never heard the name of Christ; they end up in hell because they've broken God's laws. What a desperate situation! Oh but wait, there's a little something called the Great Commission that commands Christians to take the gospel to every living creature...
   
   Fellow Christians, we must all beware of Satan's schemes that keep us focused on ourselves and our experiences instead of doing what God intended: going into all the world to preach the gospel. Your prayer life is a little stale? Can't seem to get motivated to get into the Word? Go find someone and give them the gospel message, and let your eyes be opened to the lostness all around. That's how we get unstuck when we've lost our first love, not through mystical practices designed to generate a feeling of closeness to God; no, it's by experiencing afresh the power and the beauty of the gospel message and seeing it transform the life of someone who is lost. And in turn, there's a sweet little secret that those who are active in evangelism know about: in fulfilling the Great Commission, we ourselves are renewed and refreshed and encouraged. What an amazing plan, and how blessed we are to be a part of how God blesses the world. And how small and weak and insipid look the golden calves that we create for ourselves in lieu of doing as God has commanded.
   
   I'm grateful to Caryl Matrisiciana for writing a book which shares her autobiographical story and also sounds a warning to Christians who are engaging in these practices and think that it's okay and that God will bless their endeavors. Our God is a jealous God and He will not share his glory. When we are in-dwelt with the Holy Spirit and begin to engage in practices that God detests, we all know what happens: our conscience goes nuts. It torments us day and night, and we engage in a fierce battle with our sin, until God finally brings us to repentance and restoration. After all, this is one of the functions of the Holy Spirit, to bring conviction. When we are saved, we belong to God, and He will not lose us. We are his. We are the one lost sheep that the Shepherd seeks after until He finds it even when 99 others are safely guarded and tucked away. We matter to him and He will not share us with this world.
   
   But as for those who hear the truth about occultic mysticism, read the scripture that speaks to this, and then decide to continue with what they are doing, and no inner conviction ever comes, well, the question must be asked: to whom do they belong? God or the world?

5 comments about Under God.

1. What a great book. The stories are quick, to the point and inspiring. About people both famous and little known, but about people willing to lay it all on the line for God and Country. Real people in real situations. You showed our good side and some of our bad side. I hope to be able to measure up to the good side of some of these folks before I die. Thanks, Toby. You and Michael did a great job with this.



2. This is a great book. We purchased extra copies to give as gifts and were very pleased at the condition of the books and the speed in which they arrived. Thank you.



3. This is a most enlightening book. It is a series of 60 short readings which will both break your heart and lift your soul. In today's world, the Christian base of America's history has been methodically played down in the desire that the USA not be called "a Christian country". Our roots have been squashed so thoroughly until few citizens even realize the basis upon which this country was actually founded. There is so much untold history here...for instance, I never knew how George Washington was Divinely protected in order for this country to come about. There is a lot about slavery in the book, which, sadly, I admit I knew little about. America is a most wonderful land, even with all its warts and blemishes, and to read its untold history was indeed revealing and heart-warming. To think that two young Christian rock stars wrote it makes it even better! Thanks, Toby and Michael; job well done.



4. Though fragmentary and sometimes inaccurate, this book contains some wonderful stories about the U.S.'s progress and the powerful Christian faith of individuals. "American Gospel" by John Meachum does a better job overall of showing how the Christian and Deist faiths in the founding fathers shaped the nation's Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and historic events. Sadly, these particular stories in "Under God" are often more legendary than factual, especially in the cases of Franklin and Jefferson. "The Christian History Book of Days" also gives good information on faith's impact in the Revolutionary period and during the U.S. Civil War.
   
   That being said, wow! What inspiring acts of faith the authors mentions! The stories of Ruby Dee and various civil rights leaders clearly contradict Marx's supposition that "religion is the opiate of the people." These people put their belief in Christ's truth in action in amazing ways that still impact us today. The info on the Sand Creek Massacre and on the Tejanos also give excellent background, though it shows little directly about the Christian faith. The details about lynchings sober the reader, and lead him to consider how far our country has come and how far it has to go. An especially poignant example is the story of Wilson's showing of "Birth of a Nation" in the White House. The book's strength is its documentation of the impact of faith in the civil rights struggle, and this is often overlooked by those who mention the historicity of the Christian faith in the U.S.
   
   All in all, the book is not a definitive volume of the impact of the Evangelical faith in American history; I don't think it was meant to be. However, it is an excellent supplement to some of the other books that I mentioned.



5. With everything in me, I had to keep from screaming when I read this book. To be so infatuated with "Jesus Freaks" and martyrs, Toby Mac and Michael Tate have deliberately ignored the passages in Romans 13 that specifically tell Christians to not rebel against their governments. They actually suggest at one point that Jesus would have picked up a weapon and joined the fight if he had been here at the time of the revolution. This is the abomination of abominations. Jesus told his disciples to sheath their swords. He would have never condoned a revolution for any reason.....especially for some farmers and merchants who were ticked off that their taxes were too high. Why didn't the disciples declare war against the Roman government? I mean, they were being treated much worse than the American colonists. Maybe it's because they cared about following Jesus and not leading a physical rebellion against Caesar. Your taxes go to Caesar, and your life belongs to Christ. May the Church begin to ponder these issues and study the commands of their Savior because the end is near.
   Toby and Michael, I will be praying that you learn of your blasphemy and repent of the wicked false gospel that you have poured out on so many young people. What a wretched shame that you have deceived them into believing that there are times when we should ignore the commands of the Bible. Start following Jesus!
   
   "Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
   Matthew 5:9
   
   "Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves."
   Romans 13:2
   
   "My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting that I might not be delivered up to the Jews."
   John 18:36
   
   "The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as Jesus walked."
   I John 2:6

5 comments about Trespassers Will Be Baptized: The Unordained Memoir of a Preacher's Daughter.

1. My local library was flooded this summer, losing most of the collection--this book was one of those lost. I was really excited to read this book, so broke down and ordered it. As a pastor's daughter myself, I expected I'd find her take on being a "PK" relatable and amusing. Unfortunately, the fact that she's a pastor's daughter FROM THE SOUTH takes over everything else.
   You're Southern. We get it. I found myself continually annoyed at the colloquial language she uses; by about the third page, it's getting old. It may be cute initially, which I think was her intent, but in no time it starts to feel contrived. I found her writing style to be really distracting from the content. I believe she has a good story to tell--all PK's do!--but I couldn't make it that far.



2. .....but Miss Em, as her father calls her, was doing a signing at a local Barnes & Noble...I noticed her, we got into conversation......
   
   Miss Hancock's memoir of growing up a Baptist preacher's kid is at once hilarious, sad, and thought provoking...I won't spoil it for you, but some of the stories are doozies. That they are well-written is natural...one expects a Harvard lawyer to write well, though she's sure the prettiest one I ever saw...
   
   Church people sometimes have problems, and occasionally they can be vicious beyond belief, gladly doing unto other Christians as they would not dare do unto anyone else. No Church is exempt. Still, there's a lot more good than bad in the Kingdom...Miss Em makes that clear...
   
   This is a fine book that will both entertain and inspire you...yes, the Hancocks had problems, but they solved them without destroying each other, or their faith, and moved on. That's what Christians are supposed to do. Compare this to the [superbly written] garbage in Jeanette Walls' "The Glass Castle"...Reverend Hancock and Mr. Walls served different Masters, and everything else flows from there. Miss Em will probably sell about 1% of the books Miss Walls sells...that's tragic, but that's life.....



3. This story was a very comical and interesting memoir. It's gives the reader an idea about what it's like to be a preacher's daughter. We see a picture of the author's life from age 5 to about age 10. She believed her father had some kind of magical secret. She thought she was destined to receive the Chicken Pox in order to spread God's word. She admired her little sister's way of communicating without saying a word. Near the end of the story, a tragic event changes the way her family looks at life, and teaches a lesson that sometimes we must change and move on with our lives. I recommend this book for those who want to read about the innocent outlook of a child, those who want to laugh a lot, and those who want to question why life throws us curve balls sometimes.



4. 
   
   I've read a few memoirs in my day and I'm drawn to the entertaining storytellers who both tell it like it is and also manage to paint reality a little more 3-D, a bit glossier, or even smellier. It is a rare person who can touch on the childhood struggle of figuring out our own little acre and put that immature angst into adult language and rich visuals. Elizabeth Emerson Hancock has that gift. Her story of growing out from underneath the crushing burden of the Preacher's Kid label caused me to smile and sometimes laugh. Hancock has a knack with stringing just the right words together to make her guided tour down memory lane amusing and recognizable to anyone who has spent hours at church potlucks and in Sunday best outfits with thigh backs glued to polished oak pews.
   
   But as well written as this series of life-lessons named for the Fruit of the Spirit is, I couldn't help but struggle with sadness while I read it. Some characters are so human (i.e. awful) I wondered if the author needs to consider forgiving them for the pain they caused in her life. I'm all for laughing, but some of these lessons on the road to faith felt a touch bitter. I know people can be hideous and mean-spirited. Church people can be some of the worst. And it's unfair for adults to put expectations of perfection on kids. I appreciate the emotional cost the author paid out to bare her soul for the world. I can't imagine the toll she paid for the expectations she placed on adults who disappointed her and crushed her tender heart. But Jesus did die for every mean Baptist Sunday School teacher, too. And He is willing to equip us to forgive and move on. I also don't think He wants us to make other human beings all-powerful in our lives and let them steal, kill and destroy our joy, peace or faith long after they perpetrated against us. Elizabeth has every right to tell her story, but I wonder whether some of her thoughts may have been better left unsaid.
   
   This may be one of the more difficult books I've read this year. I want to love and recommend it, but in spite of all the humor and great writing, I can't help but feel melancholy after visiting her childhood.



5. Elizabeth Emerson Hancock's humor is evident from cover to cover in "Trespassers Will Be Baptized". She brings the reader to deeper insight into the Baptist faith with humor and respect. She tells poignant stories about her life as a preacher's daughter with frank readability. The sections are cleverly divided by topic - each one a different fruit of the Spirit. And the chapter headings are hysterical!
   
   This beautifully written book is personalized with photographs and honesty. It is a memoir that is truly a treat to read.

2 comments about Pope John Paul II: An Intimate Life: The Pope I Knew So Well.

1. First off, in the interest of fair play, I must state that I am not Catholic; I know little of Karol Wojtyla, the man described as the People's Pope, the first non-Italian Pontiff since 1522. However, after reading his biography, I have learned much.
   
   The biography contains interesting tidbits such as how the statues of the Pope in Poland have the Holy Father's cassock turned up on the right as a symbol that the wind blows from west to east to denote that he would always remember his Polish roots.
   
   Writing in first person, the author, a journalist for Paris Match, who became a member of the inner circle, shares information gathered from her numerous audiences with the Pope, extensive interviews with him and his closest friends, sermons she witnessed, the times she shared meals with him as an invited guest, the trips to many countries where she tagged along, and the special occasions where her daughters meet him. A bit nervous, they call him "Very Holy Father."
   
   At first, I enjoyed it, but then it seems to bog down with so many facts and details. Perhaps it seems that way to me because I don't venerate the Pope. However, I think that this would be an interesting book for any Catholic to own and read.



2. Caroline Pigozzi's "Pope John Paul II - An Intimate Life (The Pope I Knew So Well)" is the moving biography of Karol Wojtyla, the priest known to the world as Pope John Paul II. This is a beautiful chronicle of the life of the man elected to the highest position in the Catholic church. This work also provides insight into the Catholic faith as it is written from that standpoint.
   
   I am not usually a biography reader, but this one is well worth picking up. I was truly touched by this book and feel privileged to have a deeper insight into this incredible human being.

5 comments about Gianna (Living Books).

1. This is a compelling story about the life and survival of an aborted child. Anybody with doubts about when life begins, should read this book. I was must distraught to read how much a baby goes through while being aborted. Giana remembered the burning sensation. Whether we want to hear it or not, it's real and the information is out. This book is hopeful about life and it's a possitive story. It's a good, quick read. You won't put it down. It will make you feel good, possitive and hopeful. Enjoy!



2. This book provided a great in sight from a surviver of an attempted abortion. It was a joy to read.



3. This is just an amazing book! I can't believe how far Gianna has come. It makes you want to hug her and tell her how brave of a person she is.



4. Hi! I'm Jessica Shaver and I wanted to respond to a couple of readers' comments.
   
   Yes, Gianna was really aborted. The abortionist was Dr. Edward Allred, who lives in Southern California. After thirty years of doing abortions in many locations--150,000-160,000 a year, he told me--he recently sold his business. He and I have talked about Gianna's abortion in 1977 and he says back then doctors did not have the technology to be sure how far a long a pregnancy was. So he "guess-timated" and did not use enough of the saline solution to kill her. Abortion is still legal in this country till birth.
   
   Gianna will be 30 this year (2007) and is still happy to be alive. She is based in Knoxville, TN and sings and speaks around the world.
   
   I hope you will be interested in my new book about abortion--a novel called Compelling Interests. I'd be glad to know what you think about it. (I also have a novella out, New Every Morning, under my new name, Jessica Shaver Renshaw.)
   
   Thank you for your comments!
   
   Jessica Shaver



5. This book doesn't contain the best writing I've ever seen, but it still tells the story of a remarkable young woman. Obviously, the abortion doctor's name could not be used for legal reasons, but the documents that came to Gianna's adoptive mother, combined with the "from the horse's mouth" information from Gianna's birth mother are all the evidence that a reasonable person could expect to find in a situation such as this.
   
   But Gianna's story isn't just about whether abortion is the killing of a human being or not; a great deal of her story is about forgiveness, love, and determination.
   
   Gianna is an inspiration because she's a survivor, because she's not afraid to speak her mind, and because she "walks the walk," in addition to "talking the talk."
   
   Definitely worth reading.

5 comments about Blazing Splendor: The Memoirs of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche.

1. This is a biography of the late, great Ati Yoga master Tulku Urgyen (TU)--via descriptions of interactions & legacies from his masters. As per much religious literature (Buddhist & otherwise) it mixes mythology, allegory, & historical fact--as much hagiography as biography. It stems from anecdotes/stories recorded by Erik & Marcia Schmidt et al under TU's tutelage. There are advanced teachings hidden amongst the exoteric & mythological--some being controversial: observations on Tibet's lack of preparation prior to Chinese occupation despite graphic omens p. 294: "It is amazing how a country like Tibet could have the merit to host so many great masters & at the same time lose everything;" pp. 179-80: the story of the river parting (like the Red Sea); & his uncle & root guru Samten Gyatso's statement p. 233: "One thing is for sure: there will not be any direct reincarnation. For that I have no wish. On the other hand, someone will probably come along capable of benefiting the Dharma & sentient beings, who will be given the title `Samten Gyatso's tulku.'" This certainly puts a different perspective on tulkus and reincarnation!
   
   There are also pithy observations--p. 114: "Chö is to benefit others by cutting through ego-clinging," p. 11: "When training in Mahamudra, do not busy yourself with virtuous deeds of body & speech," Milarepa explained, "because you risk losing thought-free wakefulness," p. 307: a master who acted childlike, ignoring social conventions upon reaching "collapse of delusion," p. 312: a master noting that "The Way of the Bodhisattva" is a rudimentary text, & Samten Gyatso's p. 101: "emptiness isn't anything you can possibly cultivate."
   
   There are also some interesting takes on preconceptions: p. 327: "Today's meat & cream is tomorrow's shit, p. 342: By abandoning activities you approach the nature of nonaction. That's the entire reason for staying in mountain retreats, & p. 387 note 172: Erik Schmidt--The hell realms are not real, physical locations but resemble horror movies played out in the minds of the beings there.
   
   It's a long book (especially if you aren't into hagiography & hyperbole), but if you persevere, there are gems herein. You have to dig to find the gold or wish-fulfilling gem. If you want some of his actual teachings, try his very fine Rainbow Painting: A Collection of Miscellaneous Aspects of Development and Completion or the collection of his pith instructions, Vajra Speech: A Commentary on The Quintessence of Spiritual Practice, The Direct Instructions of the Great Compassionate One or his lengthier As It Is Vol. 1 (As It Is) & As It Is, Vol. 2.



2. I'm thoroughly enjoying this book! It is full of beautiful stories about the lifestyle and people of the intense Buddhist spiritual culture in Tibet in the last century. So many anecdotes bring the whole scene to life. The flavor of that whole world comes through so clearly. I'm not a Nyingma practitioner - so I'm not talking as a devoted student per se - but it's such a rich read and I'd recommend to anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhism.
   I've hardly read anything that gives the same depth of detail and cultural ambiance as this.



3. I found this book fascinating. It gave me a window to view the way of life of an elite sector of traditional Tibetan society - the high-born lamas of Eastern Tibet - and their complete dedication to the pursuit of spiritual attainment within the context of the buddho-shamistic culture of their people. Written from deeply within the context of the Tibetan spiritual worldview, this narrative brings to life the character of many great masters from pre-communist Tibet, and puts the teachings that survive them within the context of their traditional way of life. If you are interested in awakening to Truth, the Dzogchen teachings, and traditional cultures, you are sure to find this an interesting read, providing that you are able to navigate the many dozens of Tibetan names and words that occur throughout the text (glossary included.) :) The greatest thing that struck me from reading this memoir was how profoundly the society of Tibet supported its spiritual practitioners - and in contrast how lacking our modern society is in this regard. Truly, despite all of its failings from a modern humanistic perspective, traditional Tibet was a sacred society.



4. Many reviewers have rated this book among the best because it tells the story of a great Tibetan teacher. Some of Rinpoche's students are well known teachers in the United States and other countries. This is a well told story that could, at one level, be a history of the lineage holders that compise the evaporating pool of knowledge of Tibetan Buddhist tradition and culture. On a deeper level, it is a teaching in the oral and Tantric tradition, and because the authors are careful to keep the narrative as told by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, it has the feel of a story heard while sitting in his presence. My only complaint is that the endnotes are so fact-filled and important to understanding the traditonal background of the story, that they probably should be formatted as footnotes, just so that one does not have to continually flip to the back of the book. This is an important book for those who care about Tibet and all that it was and still is because of the living oral history that remains accessible in spite of, and maybe even because of, events that ocurred in the last century.



5. This volume is wonderfully fresh and accessible. It is like sitting, listening to stories told by a dear friend or relative. There are charming details, remarkable personal observations of many of the greatest lamas of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, down through Dzonsar Khyenste, Dilgo Kyentse and the 16th Karmapa. A deep theme throughout is that of the "terton", the gifted soul who uncovers "treasures" or "terma" hidden by Padmasambhava to be discovered when the time and times are correct. The author's great grandfather, Chokgyur Lingpa, was one of the last and greatest tertons, and the teachings thus uncovered - how and where they occurred, who was involved, the lineage of those who received these teachings, and so forth - is central to the story. I have found nothing like this in any of the many I've read on Tibet and the Tibetans.
   
   Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche tells stories of these events that go back a considerable ways before he was born, into the 19th century, when Tibet was a world unto itself. He ends the book with a relatively brief description of the work he undertook at the direction of the 16th Karmapa to build a monastery near the great stupa of Boudanath, near Kathmandu, many years after his departure from Tibet in 1955. One sees glimpses throughout the narrative of the coming debacle; remarkable prophecies, side by side with engaging tales of his encounters with masters of the Dharma. It is a unique account, not to be missed, especially by those who seek a deeper understanding of how the great lamas of Tibet in that time lived their lives, related to each other, maintained their lineages and looked forward to preservation of the Dharma in a changed world. Altogether enchanting!

5 comments about Do You Believe?: Conversations on God and Religion (Vintage).

1. Although Monda lined up an interesting group of subjects,
   he is hardly an unbaised interviewer. It is one thing to
   have strong feelings about your subject matter - why else
   do the book-- but I felt many of his questions were slanted
   and influenced by his own conservative Catholic beliefs.



2. The author allows people from all beliefs to express their views and it was very illuminating to learn how much we all have in common on our thoughts of a creator or grand design.The articles were concise enabling me to read each one at my leisure and to have the time to ponder what i had just read.Ther is nothing judgemental here. The author expresses his deeply held beliefs but is able to converse civily with with those whom are of different points of view. Refreshing to say the least in a world full of people that seem to feel if they shout the loudest and talk over you to force you to convert to their way of thinking....Amen



3. "Do You Believe?" is a nice collection of interviews with famous artists about their religious beliefs. It is full of fascinating tidbits, such as David Lynch's assertion that he believes in "a divine being... who is omnipotent and eternal." I wouldn't have guessed that! There are agnostic, atheist, and general non-believers, along with those who believe. Few seem to adhere to one tradition. What I love about the collection is that it takes the form of a general philosophical discussion, not just a conversation about beliefs. I like Paul Auster's comment that "there are things we miss in every choice we make." Simple but profound. The interviewer, Antonio Monda, is a Roman Catholic and the interviews lean towards discussion of the Abrahamic God. I don't remember any discussion of polytheism or Eastern philosophies and traditions.
   
   I read the interviews about three in a sitting, and that worked really well. More than that and the sequencing starts to feel slightly repetitive since Monda is basically interviewing from a boilerplate. This book is shorter than "Stars of David" which touches on some similar themes (although that book is strictly about Judaism) and more interesting than "A Place at the Table." It reminds me of the kind of interviews you hear on NPR... I wonder if this may be where it got its start.



4. Rather than write my own review, let me share with you a review by Lawrence Joseph that was published in Commonweal magazine (31 Jan 2008):
   
   In an essay titled "Monda's World" in the July 29 edition of the New York Times Book Review, Rachel Donadio introduced "arguably the most well-connected New York cultural figure you've never heard of." Antonio Monda: forty-six years old; Italian; a resident of New York City since 1994; author; film and literary critic; award-winning filmmaker and curator; artistic director of Le Conversazioni, a festival of prominent Anglophone fiction writers held annually on the island of Capri; professor of film and television studies at New York University. Antonio Monda, Donadio announced, is "a one-man Italian cultural institute." He is also "a practicing Catholic," Donadio noted in passing, "who sends his three children to parochial school."
   
   Do You Believe? (originally published in Italy as Tu Credi? in 2006) consists of an introductory essay by Monda followed by conversations with some of America's most prominent cultural and artistic figures. Monda speaks with writers Toni Morrison, Saul Bellow, Elie Wiesel, Grace Paley, Derek Wolcott, Salman Rushdie, Paul Auster, Jonathan Franzen, Richard Ford, Michael Cunningham, Paula Fox, and Nathan Englander; actress Jane Fonda; filmmakers Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, and David Lynch; architect Daniel Libeskind; and historian Arthur Scheslinger Jr. Deeply moving, Do You Believe? is a truly compelling book, bound to become a classic.
   
   In his introduction, Monda notes that religion "obviously has played a central role in the important and often dramatic political and social choices of recent years." Do You Believe? is not, however, intended as a sociopolitical analysis. Monda's emphasis is on how every choice -- existential, artistic, political -- has its origin in the answer to "the great question" that he asked all those with whom he spoke: Does he or she believe in the existence of God?
   
   Monda's own faith is grounded in an orthodoxy that he describes as an aurea mediocritus -- a "golden mean." For Monda, true religious orthodoxy rejects religious extremes. One extreme is "every type of fundamentalist aberration." Another extreme is Gnosticism and "New Age spiritual tendencies ... constructed for the use of the individual worshiper." Monda's orthodoxy is religious "in the sense of the etymon religio: `bond.'" The aurea mediocritus of religious orthodoxy is what binds believers to their faith: "the fundamental genetic makeup of the believer includes not only the choice of the golden mean but its celebration."
   
   Monda believes in a Catholic Church bound by essential, central beliefs. He also believes in a church bound to the all-too-human. Monda quotes from G. K. Chesterton's book Heretics: "This one thing, the historic Christian Church, was founded on a weak man, and for that reason it is indestructible. For no chain is stronger than its weakest link." Monda adds: "I don't think that anyone ... can help feeling a sense of mystery before the central place still occupied by this two-thousand-year-old institution constructed by weak men who have often cursed and betrayed its message.
   
   And the sense of mystery can only conceal a doubt: Is there something truly divine behind it?" Monda often refers to the Letter to the Hebrews: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen" (11:1) -- which, to Monda, "seems a paradox, and perhaps it is. But what else is faith?"
   
   With the hope that it may "prove to be a good traveling companion on the most important journey of every life," Monda devotes the rest of Do You Believe? to a series of conversations. When Monda asks the novelist Michael Cunningham if he believes in God, he responds, "Well, we're starting off with the big one, aren't we?" Nathan Englander says, "I'd be inclined to say no if I didn't feel God's wrath." Jonathan Franzen answers by asking Monda, "What do you mean by God? What's your definition?" Monda quotes Luis Buñuel, who said he was "an atheist by the grace of God." Nathan Englander replies, "I share that feeling, and I'm ready to steal the remark." Monda asks Englander if he believes in life after death. "It's a question that brings me to a point of crisis," Englander says. "Yet again I would be tempted to say no, that it's an illusion and also perhaps a joke, but if you ask me where I think my grandfather is at this moment I would answer: in Paradise."
   
   Another of Monda's favorite questions: "What artists do you admire in whom you feel a strong religious presence?" "Most prominently, Flannery O'Connor," Michael Cunningham answers. "She was an utterly orthodox Catholic, and one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century.... O'Connor, in her fiction and her letters and essays, is the best argument I know against dismissing Catholicism outright." Daniel Libeskind invites those who don't believe in God to listen to Bach.
   
   Salman Rushdie explains to Monda that he can't get over a tragic fact that is intimately bound up with every religion, "the blood that's been shed in the name of God." Monda asks, "You don't think that this is one of the many tragic events to be attributed to men who exploit, betray, and blaspheme the will of God?" Rushdie responds, "When you don't believe, it's difficult to separate the two things, and little remains."
   
   Saul Bellow simply answers "yes" when asked if he believes in God. How does he imagine God? "I don't want to talk about that," Bellow answers. "I'm afraid of banality, and I think it's a subject whose importance is diminished by conversation." Monda then quotes, from Bellow's great novel Mr. Sammler's Planet, Mr. Sammler's declaration, "Very often, and almost daily, I have strong impressions of eternity." Bellow elaborates: "There are moments when God shadows existence." Monda: "What do you think happens at death?" Bellow: "This I don't know, but I don't think everything is resolved with the destruction of the body. What science has to say seems to me insufficient and unsatisfying."
   
   Martin Scorsese tells Monda that "Catholicism has been extraordinarily important in my life, and I would say that my films would be inconceivable without the presence of religion." Catholicism "is part of my innermost self, and I'm sure it will always be that way." When Monda asks, "Do you believe in God?" Scorsese says, "I don't think I can give a precise answer. I think that my faith in God lies in my constant searching. But certainly I call myself Catholic." Monda: "How can you be a Catholic and not be sure if you believe in God?" Scorsese: "I didn't say that. What I'm trying to explain is that I distrust definitions, and I think there are questions that I personally find it difficult to respond to directly." Monda: "For a Catholic, God is made flesh, is born of a virgin, and saves the world." Scorsese: "I would say that everything you've said is part of my culture, of what I try to express in my films, and so of my being."
   
   Grace Paley asks Monda if he's serious after he tells her that he considers his subject the most important subject not only of our time but of all times. "Do you think life after death exists?" Monda asks her. "Obviously, no," Paley answers. "And an eighty-three-year-old is telling you this, aware that she doesn't have much longer to live. The moment I take my last breath everything will end." What are her thoughts about that? "That it's sad," Paley says, "but life is wonderful."
   
   Paley then asks Monda whether he believes. His response: "I am Catholic, Apostolic, Roman." Paley: "And what is there for you after death?" Monda: "The true life." Paley: "And what is the life that we're living at this moment?" Monda: "A passage and a gift." Paley: "Do you feel that you are better as a result of your faith?" Monda: "I would feel useless without it. And even more useless without charity." Paley: "I'm ahead of you. I know you're quoting the hymn to charity -- it's a passage from Paul. And I would add, on charity I am in total agreement. One of the most beautiful, gratifying, and enriching experiences of my life was my involvement with the Catholic Worker Movement. One can say what one likes about faith, but what I saw done by its members daily and by all who were the heirs of Dorothy Day is simply marvelous: an extraordinary lesson for us all on what it means to love and to work to make the world a better place with determination and a spirit of service. It was an experience that formed my social, political, and even artistic conscience."
   
   The final conversation of Do You Believe? is with Elie Wiesel. Monda asks Wiesel if he believes in God. "Yes, of course," Wiesel answers. "May I ask what your image of him is?" Wiesel: "You can certainly ask, but I have to answer that I don't have an image of him.... I think that every image represents a limitation, and that mystery is part of his infinite greatness." Monda then turns to the problem of theodicy: "You believe firmly in God, but you live in a world where suffering, injustice, and tyranny exist." Wiesel: "It's the great torment of my entire existence. The question I don't know how to answer and that I don't think anyone can answer. But even in these terrible moments I see not an absence but an eclipse." How would Wiesel define his faith today? "I would use the adjective wounded, which I believe may be valid for everyone in my generation."
   
   Finally, Wiesel remembers the example of a friend and mentor. "When I am thinking of my personal experience, there comes to mind, as a luminous example, François Mauriac. I, a Jew, owe to the fervent Catholic Mauriac, who declared himself in love with Christ, the fact of having become a writer." Monda asks, "Do you think that the God Mauriac believed in is different from the one you believe in?" Wiesel: "No. But I know how different our views can be, and our approach. Once Mauriac dedicated a book to me and he wrote: `To Elie Wiesel, a Jewish child who was crucified.' At first I took it badly, but then I understood that it was his way of letting me feel his love."
   
   * * *



5. Dear Mr. Monda,
   
   After reading your Do You Believe? twice, I write to thank you for your remarkable effort. As a daily practitioner of the Socratic method in my rhetoric classes, your prepared and spontaneous follow-up questions explain why your interviews are so revealing and why your book is so readable.
   
   Your book must have babies. I hope that you follow it up with a sequel of interviews of equally important cultural icons. Your book will also help me revise the introduction of my Advanced Placement Unit on How Important Is God in Your Life?
   
   Your interviews evoked a series of related quotations that have shaped my thinking and values the last forty years. The personal witnesses of faith in your interviews bolster my own fragile faith. Again, thank you, profoundly.
   
   Sincerely,
   Victor J. Moeller

5 comments about Something Beautiful: The Stories Behind a Half-century of the Songs of Bill and Gloria Gaither (Faithwords).

1. This is a very personal look into the background of songs that shaped my life. It is a good read and I found tears flowing from my eyes every chapter!
   Elaine Littau
   Author of "Nan's Journey"



2. Being a fan of Christian music by Bill and Gloria Gaither, I was curious about how they birthed so many comforting, relevant, sweet melodious songs. Their songs have encouraged me through many a trial and sounded substantive notes of wisdom. In her book SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL Gloria gives a glimpse of the impetus for seventy-five of over seven hundred songs Bill Gaither has delivered to the public in the past fifty years These songs, such as "Because He lives,'' "Let's Just Praise the Lord," "He Touched Me" are classics sung by many famous people and are heard on the radio, in churches and at Christian meetings all over the country.
   
   In short vignettes, Gloria tells of experiences, thoughts, problems, scenes which motivated lyrics for musical formats composed by Bill. I was amazed at how succinctly profound words were expressed in a few short phrases. The couple's humility and wisdom in their endless productivity aimed at comforting troubled souls by expressions of God's goodness is also impressive. Gloria was more often stumped for minutes rather than material to express tidbits of timeless truth.
   
   SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL by Gloria Gaither is a good book for creative minds which are curious about the process behind the products of famous work. It will enrich fans of Christian music and all explorers of God's goodness.



3. What can I say about Gaither music? It is fabulous. They are such talented writers. The message in the songs is wonderful & the melodies are great. This is a great double CD & well worth the cost.



4. Confession time: I went right to the photos before reading this book. The publisher has included a nice cross-section of pictures that span Bill & Gloria Gaither's amazing career in Gospel music and Christian ministry.
   
   After enjoying the photos it was a pleasure to begin reading behind-the-scenes, "insider" info about how various songs were created, key moments in the Gaither's ministry, and more.
   
   Author Gloria Gaither is remarkably transparent and open as she shares from a rewarding and fulfilling career -- readers feel like they're old friends by the end of the first few chapters. Both Bill and Gloria have a way of making you feel right at home, right from the start.
   
   Here are inspiring stories about how the lyrics and songs come together when two creative people seek God's very best. Seven hundred songs later -- Bill & Gloria Gaither are at the center of a vital and fruitful ministry.
   
   You'll love this book for yourself, but it makes an excellent gift also!
   
   Dr. David & Lisa Frisbie
   The Center for Marriage & Family Studies
   Authors of 8 books, including Happily Remarried: *Making Decisions Together *Blending Families Successfully* Building a Love That Will Last



5. Over the last 50 years, Bill and Gloria Gaither have shaped the songs we sing and the music we listen to in more ways than many of us ever will realize. Together, they have written some of the most beloved choruses and songs of a generation, including "Because He Lives," "Since Jesus Passed By" and "God Gave the Song." In SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL, readers are invited to learn the behind-the-scenes inspiration for more than 70 Gaither songs as Gloria Gaither shares the intimate background of each tune.
   
   In each story, readers discover rich portraits of the Gaithers' family, ministry and life. Gaither shares the fear and uncertainty surrounding the birth of their son Benjamin, which eventually became the seedling for the song "Because He Lives." She tells the story of "Going Home," which was inspired by their daughter Suzanne's joy for returning home after a long road trip.
   
   Describing the inspiration of her husband, Bill, for the song "He Touched Me," Gaither says that when Bill originally shared the lyric "And now I am no longer the same!" she suggested he rework the line to be more specific. While he graciously acknowledged her suggestion, he kept the verse as it was --- just as it came to him. The next weekend, it was being performed live. Since its writing, the song has become the most recorded that the Gaithers ever penned. Recorded by artists including Elvis Presley, the Imperials and George Beverly Shea, it's been translated in dozens of languages and sung around the world. Gloria writes, "I still cringe a little when I think that we could have lost its most powerful line...had he listened to me."
   
   Along the way readers will discover the phrases and ideas that captured the Gaithers' hearts and imagination. They'll discover the birthing stories of the songs --- some of which came easily and others with much more difficulty. The best part of the book is that you do not need to know every song in order to appreciate the richness and depth of the lyrics, the revelations of God and His kingdom and theological reflections that line the pages.
   
   Poets and songwriters will enjoy the insights into writing that dot the pages. For instance, Gaither says that at times secular interviewers will ask them how they keep writing tunes with religious themes. After more than 700 songs, don't you begin to run out of ideas? Gaither responds graciously that it is no more possible to exhaust the story of Jesus than to run out of the stories of life. The story of God's love is new every morning!
   
   As a bonus, the hardcover features more than a dozen pages of color photos from the Gaithers' career. Images of Bill playing for a youth group in his father's farmhouse as well as the Gaithers with Larnelle Harris and Bill George are welcome reminders of their legacy and impact over the years.
   
   In essence, SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL is the soundtrack of Bill and Gloria Gaither's lives. Reading this book is a reminder of God's grace, power and redemption. It is a must-have for fans of the Gaithers, songwriters and music lovers.
   
   --- Reviewed by Margaret Oines

5 comments about A More Elite Soldier: Pursuing a Life of Purpose.

1. This is a five-star read for what it does: show how life as an elite U.S. Army Ranger is very similar to the life of a dedicated Christian. Holton describes in vivid detail the challenges of the incredible training and physical demands placed upon the Ranger trainee and how that training saves lives on the battlefield. And interspersed throughout the narrative are reminders and illustrations of how living the Christian life also requires one to be an elite soldier. This is a small book, very personal, very well-written for someone who is not a professional writer, and very profound. Certainly, every military man should read this, but so should anyone who is serious about living the Christian life. A very inspiring book.



2. Whether you realize it or not, ever since Satan rebelled against God, every human being has arrived on planet earth - a world at war! Chuck's book shows how the lessons he learned as a more elite soldier - a US Army Ranger (hooah) - are directly applicable to life as a Christian being a more elite soldier in the army of the Lord and participating in the daily spiritual battle. Chuck also shows how God, knows us, loves us, and takes time to meet our needs - the last chapter will get your full and undivided attention and show you just how much God cares.



3. I'm currently non-denominational and chose to read this book for two reasons: I served in the same Regiment as Mr. Holton (different time period) and I'm currently at a crossroads in my life concerning the idea of organized religion. Simply stated, I'm a lost sheep amongst the herd.
   So I figured maybe I could pick up a few jewels from this book. And I feel I did.
   But to the interested reader, be aware that this book is heavy on Army speak, to the point that I think it would take the average reader some time to try and understand what he talks about. I thought his stories were humorous, but then again much of what he says I've done before. So just understand that and further understand it's STILL worth reading.
   It's an excellent resource for any soldier who's struggling to find the application of God in his life. I came to a realization yesterday that I'm missing something and oddly enough this book appeared in my life the same evening (odd, huh?). Fortuitous as it was, I read it in a day and firmly believe he deals w/ real-life issues concerning combat, leadership, and most important, spirituality, which in turn makes for a very good, down-to-earth read.
   Three stars for the subject it covers; casual, combat-disinterested readers may not enjoy (even though combat isn't the issue he's hinting at--it's really revelations LEARNED from it which is the pot of gold).
   If you're compelled by anything I've said, check it out.



4. ok i'll make this quick. this is a book that will be read in my house for years to come... one of the best i have ever read. if you have any doubts about this book... forget them... this book demands a rating higher than 5...(...)



5. I read about this book in New Man Magazine.... And I must say... This is a great book for anyone to read... I have shared it already with at least 5 people.... So do yourself a favor and pick it up.

No comments about Martin Luther's Theology: A Contemporary Interpretation.