Book Review #19 – “Fer-de-Lance” by Rex Stout; published 1934, Bantam Doubleday Dell Publ. “That, of course, is the advantage of being a pessimist; a pessimist gets nothing but pleasant surprises, and an optimist nothing but unpleasant.” (Nero Wolfe, “Fer-de-Lance“). An Amazing Detective Series of Murder Mysteries. If you’re a fan of crime thrillers/murder mysteries/detective stories, this is the …
Book Review #18 – “Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe; published 1719. “I, poor miserable Robinson Crusoe, being shipwrecked during a dreadful storm in the offing, came on shore onto this dismal unfortunate island, which I called ‘The Island of Despair,’ all the rest of the ship’s company being drowned, and myself almost dead.” ” (Robinson Crusoe) Background …
Quotable Quotes from G. K. Chesterton’s “Orthodoxy” Many literary scholars have said that Orthodoxy was Chesterton’s masterpiece. So instead of regaling the reader here with potentially thousands of worthy Chesterton quotes, I’ll narrow my focus to that particular favorite of mine: (1.) “There is a motto of the modern world… ‘That man will get on; he believes in …
Book Review #17 – “St. Francis of Assisi” by G. K. Chesterton, published in 1924 by Doubleday. A heavenly version of St. Francis’ Canticle: Patty Griffin – All Creatures God and King “I should only be too thankful if this thin and scratchy sketch contains a line or two that attracts men to study St. Francis for …
Book Review #16 – “Prayers of the Martyrs” by Rev. Dr. Duane Arnold, 1991, Zondervan Publ. “… The glorious company of apostles praise You, The noble fellowship of prophets praise You, The white-robed army of martyrs praise You, Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims You;” (from the Te Deum, a poem of praise by Nicetus, 414 AD, …
Book Review #15 – “Something Beautiful for God” by Malcolm Muggeridge; published 1971 by Harper & Row. “Mother Teresa is, in herself, a living conversion; it is impossible to be with her, to listen to her, to observe what she is doing and how she is doing it, without being in some degree converted. Her total …
Book Review #14 – “Proving the Unseen” by George MacDonald (A Truly Christ-Centered Author); published in 1989 by Ballantine Books. Brief Bio of George MacDonald (1824-1905). One wonders if a more Christ-centered author could be found. MacDonald was often called the Father of Modern Myth or the Father of Fantasy Literature. But he was so much …
Book Review #13 – “Peculiar Treasures” by Frederck Buechner (real characters in the Bible); 1979 by Harper & Row Publ. “You shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people, My own special property; for all the earth is Mine.” (Exodus 19:5). Brief Bio of Frederick Buechner (1926-2022). There’s a good reason Buechner was considered one of the …
The One Anothers: The Muscular System Within Community. “Behold, how wonderful, how delightful it is for God’s people to dwell together in harmony!.. How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in unity… Oh, how good and merry it is when brothers and sisters live together in peace.” (Psalm 133:1). One Another. What does …
Spelling Out the Nature of Community. “All who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need… The full number of believers, every one of them, were united in heart and soul. Not one of them claimed …
Book Review #12 – “Life Together” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (the character of Christian community); published 1938. “How truly wonderful and delightful to see brothers and sisters living together in sweet unity! It’s as precious as the sacred scented oil flowing from the head of the high priest Aaron, dripping down upon his beard and running all …
Book Review #11 – “The Cookie Tree” by Jay Williams; published in 1967 by Parents Magazine Press. “The Village of Owlgate was quiet and tidy, and nothing surprising ever happened there. Everything had a place, and everything was in its place. Everybody knew why things happened and everything happened just as it was supposed to. Nothing …