Movie Review: Marley and Me

I haven’t set foot inside a commercial movie theater since 1993. No, I’m not kidding. Ticket prices, higher priorities, other interests and an utter lack of interest in most of the junk Hollywood cranks out these days disguised as “movies” have kept me away from theaters for years. So you know something unusual – maybe even remarkable – drew me into the theater today to see the comedy/drama Marley and Me.

Truth is, I wasn’t planning on seeing Marley and Me at all. But my husband and older sons were on an all-day youth group outing, leaving me home with our youngest son. Josiah wasn’t exactly jumping for joy about being left behind. After fixing Josiah his favorite lunch and dessert, I called the local cinema center on a lark, got the usual unintelligible recording, but deciphered just enough of it to catch something about a family and a yellow Labrador retriever. I’ve been a sucker for yellow Labs ever since Old Yeller. In fact, our good dog and loyal canine, Eve, is a yellow Lab. Marley and Me was a no-brainer.

I bought two matinee tickets for Josiah and me and walked into a theater that was two-thirds full, oppressively stuffy, and had the soles of my shoes sticking to the floor. I almost turned around and walked out. Only reason I didn’t was because I didn’t want to disappoint Josiah. I’m glad I stayed. Marley and Me was a pleasant surprise.

This charming, rambunctious, family-oriented movie is about a “clearance puppy,” aka; “the world’s worst dog,” and the havoc and happiness he wreaks within the Grogan household. Based on the best selling book from ex-Philadelphia Inquirer columnist John Grogan, Marley and Me has Owen Wilson playing Grogan with deadpan good humor and Jennifer Aniston as his wife, Jen.

The movie opens just after the Grogan’s wedding in southern Michigan which is accompanied by a blizzard. The couple moves to “some place warmer” – Florida – where both husband and wife land jobs as reporters. Josh reports largely uninspiring stories reports for the Sun-Sentinel until his hard-boiled editor (Alan Arkin) asks him to take on a twice-a-week column. Self-described as “full of surprises,” Josh reluctantly accepts and soon finds his niche writing columns about “regular, every day stuff:” his wife, their growing family, and the uproarious antics of the rascally, rambunctious Marley (named for the singer Bob).

One thing I especially appreciated about this movie is that it portrays the stresses and strains, exhaustions and joys of family life realistically, without stereotypes of clichés. Jen eventually gives up her career to stay home full-time with the Grogan’s sons, who are later joined by “whups,” their third child, a daughter. The family gets a minivan, moves into a larger home in Boca and eventually settles to Pennsylvania where Grogan writes for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Dissatisfied with hard news reporting, Grogan eventually finds his way back to what he loves most and does best – writing a column about “regular, every day stuff.”

Meanwhile, Grogan’s “regular, every day” family life - complete with dirty diapers, messy houses, thunder storms, unfinished homework, soccer games and snowball fights - is subtly contrasted to the ostensibly more glitzy, glamorous life of Sebastian Tunney, a hot bachelor reporter. A choice scene occurs toward the end of the movie in which Grogan runs in to Tunney - on assignment for yet another plum story - and passing through Philadelphia. Tunney inquires about the family and Grogan proudly pulls out a snapshot of Jen and the kids and of course, the four-legged rascal, Marley. They exchange a few pleasantries before Grogan mentions that he has to get going because his son has a soccer game. The two friends shake hands and promise to “get together some time.” Tunney flashes his trademark toothy grin and roams down the sidewalk, hitting on yet another young woman while Grogan, clearly the richer and more fulfilled of the two, heads back to his wife and kids and that crazy, loveable yellow Lab that has a few surprises himself.

I forgot all about the over-warm theater, the stale air and sticky cement floor about halfway through this movie. It was delightful. I walked out of the theater hugging my son and hurrying home to hug my good dog and the rest of my family.

To be sure, Marley and Me isn’t Gone With the Wind, but it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s a gem of a little “sleeper” and has a gentle, unpretentious quality to it that all dog lovers – and everyone else – can enjoy. Go see it. And be sure to bring Kleenex.

Caution: Marley and Me is rated PG. A few brief scenes and lines may be inappropriate for very young viewers.

"Oh, the weather outside is...!"

First snow of the season! December in the Pacific Northwest.

The Shack

The Shack
By William P. Young

The Shack is one of the most extraordinary books I've ever read. Creative, intriguing, gutsy and a thoroughly engaging read, this remarkable novel addresses the age-old question of why/how a loving God can allow suffering and evil to exist in this world.

Overwhelmed by "The Great Sadness" that threatens to engulf him with tsunami severity, Mackenzie "Mack" Allen Phillips receives a cryptic note in his mailbox one winter afternoon. There’s no return address. No postal mark. No signature. The typed note is signed "Papa" - the word his wife, Nan, uses for God. Unbelievably, the sender asks Mack to meet him at the shack - the site of an immense tragedy about four years prior.

Against his better judgment, Mack gingerly, reluctantly finds himself on the road to the wilderness area where his young daughter, Missy, was abducted during a family camping trip and subsequently murdered. What and Who he finds at the shack travels with Mack through his blistering rage, sorrow, confusion, disillusionment, and accusation as well as infinite amazement, forgiveness, grace, and finally, immeasurable joy and wonder - without the clichés and canned answers on either side of the equation.

Set in the Pacific Northwest, this intense, beautifully written story is “ghostwritten" by the author as “told by” Mack, whose unspeakable personal loss leads him on a Bunyanesque journey into eternity - and some startling surprises.

Refreshingly, The Shack isn't about churchianity, sitting in a pew on Sundays, skimming through a Scripture reading so you can mark it off your daily to do list, or textbook academia that’s as dry as the Atacama. It centers on relationships that are as bold and dazzling and mysterious as a brand new harvest moon. The imaginative portrayal of the Trinitarian God is especially delicious and exhilarating in this regard, and within biblical bounds.

Note: The Shack</ is a novel, as in fiction. It neither purports nor pretends to be a theological treatise. So if you’re of the grim, puritanical and myopic American Gothic persuasion, never mind. Dollars to donuts you won’t get it.

That said, I’d like to add that of the nearly 200 books I've read thus far this year, The Shack is among my top three titles. I read the whole thing (250+ pages) cover-to-cover in just over 24 hours. It's THAT good. As in, brilliant. If you don’t read anything else this year and you’re looking for something fresh, authentic and amazing, don’t miss The Shack.

"Merry Tossmas"

From FOTF:

http://www.citizenlink.org/videofeatures/A000008654.cfm

Grace

Grace
By Richard Paul Evans
Simon & Schuster, 2008
ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-5003-7


I finished reading Richard Paul Evans’ newest release, Grace, last week. I held off on writing a review because I wanted to ruminate on the novel awhile, let it roll around in my head and “marinate.” You can’t rush a review of Grace. It’s not that kind of book. Here’s why:

When I read the Author’s Note regarding the 1874 child abuse case of Mary Ellen Wilson, I almost put Grace back on the library shelf. I can’t get near that topic without one of two reactions: dissolving into a soggy heap of tears, or wanting to personally thrash the stuffing out of the perpetrators. As the mother of four boys and the Children’s Ministries Co-Director for our church, child abuse enrages me beyond words. It also rips my heart out. Frankly, I wasn’t up for either emotion the day Grace came into the library (It took awhile. I was #23 in the “On Hold” queue). Tempted to put it back, I refrained from doing so for just one reason: I own every title Evans has ever written. I’m never been disappointed. So, on the strength of Evans’ prior work, I decided to trust him with this new book. So I stuffed Grace into my bag en route to the YMCA with my youngest. Poolside while Josiah splashed down the water slide, I gingerly withdrew Grace and started reading.

Grace opens with a recap of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl and some grandfatherly reflections from protagonist Eric Welch on Christmas Day 2006 (p.5). Told in the first person, the story unfolds in flashback fashion during Eric’s teen years and moves from October 1962 to early January 1963. Eric’s father, a construction worker, is unable to work due to Guillain Barre Syndrome. The family of four, which includes Eric’s ten year-old brother and best friend, Joel, is forced to move from southern California to a rundown, low-rent part of Utah. (I have a good friend with GBS. I’ve never seen this debilitating disease in another novel.) We struggle with Eric through the first four chapters as he endures the slings and arrows of being “the new kid” in middle school and all the attendant traumas and woes that unhappy scenario typically includes. In Eric’s case it’s exacerbated by being poor and from out-of-state to boot.

We meet fifteen year-old Grace in Chapter Five. She’s foraging for food in a dumpster behind “McBurger Queen,” Eric’s part-time (scum bag) employer. On page 34 we find out that Grace is a runaway: “I’m not going home.” But she has no where to go. Besides, there’s something about Grace (and grace) that’s …unexplained. Mysterious. Something that causes us as well as Eric to pause…

Unwilling to leave Grace roaming the streets alone on a cold October night, Eric brings her to the “clubhouse” he and Joel built behind the family’s sprawling, dilapidated home. The next 240 pages detail the tender uncertainties of First Love, selflessness and sacrifice, courage in the face of overwhelming odds, the Cuban Missile Crisis, family and emotional struggles, and Eric’s rage at the people who “coulda, shoulda, woulda” protected young Grace from her predacious stepfather – but didn’t. The willful ignorance of neighbors, school officials and law enforcement receive a withering indictment that’s all the more effective for its understated subtlety: “I sat alone staring at the back of a pew while people who didn’t really know anything about Grace talked about her as if they suddenly cared.” (p. 292). Evans gently but unequivocally shows how any willful blindness or ignorance makes us all complicit when it comes to crimes against children:

“You killed her. You and Dad and Joel and her pathetic, worthless mother and those stupid, idiotic policemen who just couldn’t wait to be heroes. … You all killed Grace…’ (p. 295)

If the story stopped here, it would have been poignant, but Evans doesn’t let it go. Not quite. He doesn’t leave us outraged, wrung-out, hopeless and helpless. Instead, he subtly intertwines themes of God’s grace, redemption and restoration throughout this carefully crafted story of a teen runaway (see the bottom of page 296). This reaches its zenith in an Epilogue that is both hopeful and heart-wrenching. It is in these final, gripping pages that we see how tragedy transforms a painfully shy, self-conscious fourteen year-old boy “with acne and a bad hair cut” into a tough-as-nails, take-no-prisoners prosecutor whose life is forever and irrevocably changed by those late autumn and winter months of 1962 and a girl named Grace:

“I have spent my life hunting down and prosecuting people like Grace’s stepfather. I carry Grace’s locket into every trial. I’ve earned a reputation as a fierce courtroom combatant who takes every case personally. What Grace saw in the candle was true of me as well. I am feared. … Today I continue my crusade. I have testified about child abuse before state lawmakers more times than I can remember. I’ve lived to see child advocacy become a public concern. I am grateful that the world finally has the courage to open its eyes. My wife asks me when we can retire, but I tell her I’ll die in the saddle. With my last breath I’ll continue to fight for these children. I cannot save them all, but I can save some of them, and that’s worth doing. There are other Graces out there.” (p. 305, 306).

I was personally relieved that Evans avoids any graphic details regarding Grace’s family history, relationships or the experiences that led to her running away from home. Consummate storyteller that he is, Evans drops subtle clues and hints throughout the story and allows us to fill in the blanks without assaulting us with additional traumatic narrative.

In terms of format and style, Grace features Evans’ usual short chapters and his trademark “diary entries” that preface each chapter. The style is vintage Evans, luminous and evocative, introducing us to three-dimensional characters whom we come to know, love, and miss as plot, climax, and conclusion unfold with great sensitivity and sagacity. The book closes with A Letter from Richard Paul Evans detailing practical help readers can provide via The Christmas Box Initiative and Operation Kids. Web sites and a toll-free phone number are included.

All in all, Grace is a fast – but not a light - read. I finished the book in an afternoon. I rate it four out of five stars. Although I love Evans' stories, Grace fell just a little short for me, maybe because it seemed emotionally manipulative, a tad pedantic and somewhat predictable at times. (This opinion may be due to the combined effects of sauna-like humidity, enough chlorine to choke a whale and countless interruptions from an errant beach ball – all part of trying to read beside an indoor pool.) While it isn’t as strong as either The Gift or Finding Noel, Grace is still a worthwhile read. In fact, I wanted to stand up at cheer by the final page. I plan on a re-read – just as soon as I restock my Kleenex stash.

Ah, Autumn!

Nisqually Wildlife Refuge

Freedom for Mothers

The following review was originally posted by our friends over at HEvencense. Used here by permission:

Today we take a closer look at a popular Bible study, Freedom for Mothers, by Denise Glenn of MotherWise Ministries, Houston, TX. Although Freedom for Mothers and its precursor, Wisdom for Mothers, are festooned with glittering endorsements from an impressive stable of Christian luminaries, one must wonder if any of those quoted actually read this material cover to cover, line by line. Freedom for Mothers purports to be "a bible (sic) study for moms based on John 15. This is an in-depth Bible study with practical mothering tips and instruction for prayer time."

Like Wisdom, Freedom for Mothers is divided into ten units. Each unit represents one week of study. Each week is divided into five daily lessons. In the interest of time and space, we'll limit ourselves to "Say What?!" examples from Units 3, 5, and 7 (there are lots more, but we'll just touch on these.)

Red flags wave vociferously throughout Unit 7, but let's start in Unit 3, The Principle of the Branch: the Root of the Problem, pp. 65 - 91. On page 71 Glenn writes:

"Jesus used an old garment and an old wineskin to illustrate our minds and hearts. Even if we get a 'patch' of His Word and 'sew' it onto our old thought patterns, it will 'tear' when 'washed' in the swirling waters of life's difficult circumstances. The new and old can't work together. We need an entirely new garment.

If we take the old wineskin of our attitudes, behaviors, and thought patterns as a mother and pour in God's Word, the old thnking patterns won't be able to contain the new powerful truths. The old will be shattered by the new. No, we must have new wineskins and new ways of thinking and new attitudes - to contain the new wine of Jesus' powerful life within us

." (Freedom for Mothers, p. 71)

Drawn from Matthew 9:16-17, this paragraph opens Unit 3 of Freedom for Mothers, The Anatomy of the Flesh. Not a bad analogy. But in proper context, is it the point of Matthew 9:16-17, or another example of "Denise Digressions" - playing fast and loose with the text to make her point - rather than allowing the text to speak for itself?

In context, Jesus has just healed two deomon-possessed men in the Gadarenes, where the people begged him to leave. Gadara is about six miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee. Apparently at their request, Jesus steps into a boat and "came to his own town" (vs. 1). There he heals a paralytic and outrages teachers of the law by forgiving the man's sins (vs. 2-8). He calls Matthew at his tax collector's booth (vs. 9) and soon thereafter John 's disciples come and ask him questions about fasting. Here's where we jump in at verse 15:

"Jesus answered, `How can the guests of the bridgroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. No one sews a patch of unshrunken cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

In ancient times goatskins were used to hold wine. As the fresh grape juice fermented, the wine would expand, and the new wineskin would stretch. But a used skin, already stretched, would break.

Glenn muddles the plain sense of Matthew 9 with an attempt to equate "old wineskins" with "attitudes, behaviors, and thought patterns" and the flesh. (This view may have its roots in Liberty Savard's teachings and writings, referenced in the Notes section of Freedom for Mothers. Savard's teachings are not endorsed by credible Bible scholars.)

While Glenn's interpretation is Biblically valid in a broad sense, it clearly misses the point of this passage in Matthew. Here the Lord Jesus Christ uses a word picture that He brings a newness that cannot be confined within the old forms of the Old Testament. This is Law vs. Grace 101 - defining an old wineskin as "the flesh" rather than the old forms of religiosity may be a stretch (pun intended).

In Unit 5, The Principle of the Shears: Pruning the Branch (pp. 117- 152), Glenn isn't satisfied with the Biblical list of "deeds of the flesh" noted in Galatians 5:16-21. She seems compelled to include "... a detailed list of some patterns of `flesh' or self-nature" based on Discover the Master's Plan for Mastering Life, something published by "the Association of Exchanged Life Ministries, Inc." in 1993.

Curious? Here's the list:

Anger, anxiety, argumentative, biotry, bitterness, boastful, bossy. Causing dissension, conceited, controlling, critical trongue, depression, envy, fear. Feelings of rejection, feelings of worthlessness, gluttony, hatred, idolatry, impatience, impulsiveness. Impure thoughts, inadeuqcy, indifference to other's problems, insecurity, lasy, loner, materialistics, negativism, opinionated, overly sensitive and overly submissive. Passivity, pride, profane, rebellion at authoriity. Resentment, self-centered, self-confidence, self-deprecation, self-hatred, self-indulgence, self-justification, self-pity, self-reliance, self-righteous, self-sufficiency. (Take a deep breath now. We're almost there.) Sensuality, sexual lust, slow to forgive, stubbornness, temper. Too quick to speak, undue sadness. Vaniety, withdrawal, workaholic, worrier. (Wouldn't it be easier - and quicker - to just say, "If you're breathing, you're engaged in `patterns of flesh'? That seems to be the point of this exercise.)

Well. "Argumentative", "stubborn" and "opinionated"? There goes the legal profession! And those stalwart members of the Dutch and French Underground (to cite just one example) who "stubbornly" resisted the Third Reich during WWII? Tsk! Tsk! How 'bout pro-lifers who "stubbornly" stand up for the unborn and insist on their protection? Or the apostles who "stubbornly" spoke up for Christ, obeying God's commands rather than the edicts of Rome? "Undue sadness, overly sensitive to criticism" and "overly submissive"? According to whom? What is "overly submissive", by the way? And is someone standing by with a stopwatch to determine who is and isn't "too quick to speak"? "Slow to forgive," "passive," "loner", "indifferent" or "negative" - compared to what? Who makes that call?

We could go on, but you get the point. Perhaps the biggest problem with this extra-Biblical "list" is that its contents appear in a vacuum, without context or definition. "Anger" and "temper" sans context make the Lord Jesus Christ's action in overthrowing the tables in the temple "fleshly" or proceeding from "self-nature."

See what I mean?

This list can also encourage finger-pointing at others based on some questionable calls. Also note that a hefty portion of this list can be reasonably linked to specific temperament or personality types that may have little or nothing to do with "patterns of the flesh" or "self-nature." Some "patterns of the flesh" in this list, such as depression, may arguably arise from chemical and other imbalances as well as external factors beyond one's immediate control. Does that make them "fleshly"? I understand the point Glenn's trying to make here, but this is quite a stretch.

Let's move on.

Unit 7, The Principle of the Bud: Grafted to the Vine (pp. 173 - 200) hoists offers a fleet of red flags. Glenn opens this unit on p. 180 with a brief discussion of positive and negative self-esteem. She writes:

"How a mother views herself - who she is and why she is on earth - makes all the difference in her mothering. Mothering from a poor self-image makes for poor mothering. Mothering from an overly positive self-image may be even worse.

We mothers need to know who we are. We need to know why we are here. It is the only solution in having an accurate perception from which to mother our children.

I have incredibly good news for you. I can't wait wait to share this week's lesson with you because there are some liberating truths in God's Word that can change the esteem you have for yourself forever."

Glenn uses the word "self" (or a derivative) eight times in half a page. Personally, I'd rather focus on Jesus Christ than on me, myself, and I and my "self-esteem." But here's another issue. A big one. Down a couple sentences, Glenn writes:

"Let me put it as simply as I can. You were born with a desperately sinful nature (Romans 1:18). It was not responsive to God at all. When you came to Christ, that old sinful nature died (Romans 6:6). It no longer exists

(emphasis added)."

The old sinful nature "no longer exists"? Really. Then why do Christians sin? If the old sinful nature "no longer exists" as Glenn asserts, are Christians sinless? Hmmm.

A careful reading of Romans 6:6 doesn't support Glenn's claim: "For we know that our old self (the old, unregenate self in its pre-Christian state, dominated by sin) was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - (verse 7) because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. (NIV)"

"That the body of sin might be done away with or destroyed" is not - repeat, NOT - the equivalent of saying "the old sinful nature does not exist"!!! Paul is NOT espousing the doctrine of sinlessness here, which Glenn's comments seem to imply or infer. The word destroyed here is katargeo, meaning "to make of none effect, to be paralyzed or canceled or nullified - "that we should no longer be slaves to (or serve) sin. (emphasis added)." Don't miss verses 7 - 12 which clarify the theme. Paul is NOT saying - repeat, NOT - that the old man nature has been eradicated or that it "no longer exists." He's saying that since the old man is crucifed, the body of sin has been put out of business, so that from now on we should not be in bondage to sin. Not sinless, but free from sin's shackles and power (v. 7). That's a far cry from claiming that "the old sinful nature no longer exists." (For a thorough and Biblically sound exegesis of Romans 6, see Commentary on Romans by Anders Nygren, pp. 230 - 248.)

Additional Observations:

-- Chiefly problematic is Glenn's penchant for proof-texting and her frequent violation of the historical-grammatical method of Biblical exegesis. The presentation is zealous but sloppy (see comments above.)

-- At 270+ pages, Freedom for Mothers is twice as long and half as lucid as it could be. Newbies are likely to find this plodding tome tedious and overly ambitious. A number of women with whom I spoke dropped out around Unit 5 or 6 with comments like "too long", "don't have time", "way too many pages", etc.

-- The Contents portion of this tome (pp. 9-10) lists ten units and Mothering Skills, but lacks page numbers for easy reference. Not exactly "user friendly."

-- Utilizing the old "shotgun approach," Glenn sprays superficial "Bible bullets" all over her text rather than focusing on salient points and topics and covering them in-depth. Leaps in logic as wide as the Grand Canyon open at times between one unit, topic or text and the next, leaving the study virtually incoherent in places.

-- Much of Wisdom and Freedom is written from the perspective of a white, middle or upper-middle class American (at least in the edition noted). Assumptions are made about jobs, bank accounts, leisure activities, homeowner status, family chemistry, disposable income, etc. that are inaccurate (and possibly offensive). See the Mothering Skills Discussion, Toys and Technology: Tots to Teens in Unit 3, pp. 67 - 70a.

Another example is Glenn's "Christmas Jar Miracle" testimony (pp. 217 - 222) includes a perspective some struggling moms may find hard to swallow and/or identify with. This is perhaps best summed up in Glenn's statement on p. 219: "At the end of the next pay period, I took the surplus left in the checking account, got it in cash, and put it in the jar. I knew how much money was in the jar and it wasn't much. In fact it was one-tenth of what we usually spent on Christmas."

Glenn uses the word "surplus" five times in one page, which may leave some moms thinking, "Surplus??? What's THAT??!!"

-- Glenn has a penchant for overusing the more familiar, rather diluted "Jesus" instead of His full regal title, the Lord Jesus Christ.

-- Several ladies I spoke to indicated that they found Glenn a gifted devotional writer or storyteller, but NOT a Bible scholar. This is obvious throughout Freedom.

-- Members of the MotherWise board or review committee remain anonymous and/or inaccessible. Readers may want to keep this in mind - and wonder why.

-- Glenn's "yuck-yuck," Pollyanna persona in the accompanying video appeals to some women as "warm" or "charming," but it may turn off (or irritate) those who are more serious and scholarly. This may be compounded by the overuse of colloquialisms and vernacular, such as the cloying "love bucket" analogy in Unit 2 (pp. 41 - 45).

-- Glenn cites sources for some of her units/concepts which may give cause for pause, such as Liberty Savard and Joyce Meyer (see pages 278-79.) For example, Glenn refers to "a new way to look at Matthew 16:19" and praying Savard's peculiar interpretation of this "binding and loosing" passage "concerning our attitudes and actions concerning money" (p. 218). Savard's teaching is based on a faulty understanding of the context of Matthew 16:19 that is repudiated by credible Bible scholars.

-- Astonishingly, Glenn doesn't consult (or at least never sources) any leading Bible scholars for this study (Strong's Greek Dictionary or Strong's Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary are not primary source materials, but reference tools). This should tell us something. Readers may wonder why authoritative evangelical sources/expositions are lacking in "an in-depth Bible study" purportedly "based on John 15." Conspicuous by its absence in Glenn's slapdash approach to Romans 6 - 9 are two of the finest scholarly commentaries ever written on the subject by C.E.B. Cranfield and Anders Nygren. We can only wonder why? (This should also tell us something.)

-- A line from the 1985 movie Out of Africa sums up most of this study. Turning to Denys Finch-Hatton (Robert Redford), Baroness Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) inquires, "Is life really so d**n simple for you, Finch-Hatton?" The baroness has a point. We could ask the same question of Freedom for Mothers. Some may find Freedom's one-size-fits-all, formulaic approach to complex and often thorny issues and problems overly simplistic or inane.

To be fair, some of the above may be minimized or averted depending upon the skill and training of leaders at the local level. New believers or unseasoned, untrained Christians probably won't notice these deficiencies and may genuinely benefit from MotherWise materials. Women with sharp, alert minds and analytical skills should, and may opt to look elsewhere for more mature, balanced Bible studies.


Freedom for Mothers, by Denise Glenn of MotherWise Ministries. Published 1999 by Multnomah Publishers, Inc.

Indian Summer...

Just up the road...



Museum rose garden across the street.



Dewey Lake from Naches Peak Trail.



"Queen of the Cascades" (Mt. Rainier)








"Around town..."





Tipsoo Lake.

More when I get the hang of this better...

"Fireproof"

If you haven't yet seen this extraordinary movie, DO. TODAY. From the folks who brought us Facing the Giants (a personal favorite).

"You Have Our Attention"

The first response to any crisis is prayer; urgent and honest prayer. Before we turn to money managers and governments, let’s turn to the
Maker of the Universe.


You Have Our Attention, Lord
A prayer by Max Lucado - October 2008

Our friends lost their house
The co-worker lost her job
The couple next door lost their retirement
It seems that everyone is losing their footing

This scares us. This bailout with billions.
These rumblings of depression.
These headlines: ominous, thunderous -
“Going Broke!” “Going Down!” “Going Under!” “What's Next?”

What is next?

We’re listening. And we’re admitting: You were right.

You told us this would happen.
You shot straight about loving stuff and worshipping money.
Greed will break your heart, You warned.
Money will love you and leave you.
Don’t put your hope in riches that are so uncertain.

You were right. Money is a fickle lover and we just got dumped.

We were wrong to spend what we didn’t have.
Wrong to neglect prayer and ignore the poor.
Wrong to think we ever earned a dime. We didn’t. You gave it. And now, tell us Father, are You taking it?

We’re listening. And we’re praying.
Could you make something good out of this mess?

Of course You can. You always have.
You led slaves out of slavery,
Built temples out of ruins,
Turned stormy waves into a glassy pond and water into sweet wine.
This disorder awaits your order. So do we.

Through Christ,
Amen

God will always give what is right to His people who cry to Him night and day, and He will not be slow to answer them. (Luke 18:7 NCV)

What Happened?

For more on Fannie & Freddie, check out:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exxVZTKq1vA]

Diana: In Pursuit of Love

And I thought All My Children was a soap opera. Indeed, Erica Kane has nothing on the late Princess of Wales and the latter’s tumultuous, tortured relationship with the British monarchy embodied by the stiff-upper-lip stoicism and self-absorbed myopia of the House of Windsor. This biography by acclaimed British “investigative writer” Andrew Morton, bears the unfortunate title of Diana: In Pursuit of Love (Michael O’Mara Books Limited, 2004). Depending upon which side of the warring Waleses one sympathizes with, a more accurate heading may have been : Diana: Queen of Hearts?, Diana: Goddess of the Hunt, Saint Diana: The People’s Princess, or Diana: Royal Nutcase.

Whatever else may be the case regarding the late Princess, Morton’s meticulously researched and painstakingly documented account of Diana’s last five years of life is even-handed and so thorough it could choke a whale. Morton tries hard not to take sides in the famous Windsor vs. Diana wars, but his affection for and admiration of the Princess is evident throughout the pages of this 302 page tome. It includes an Introduction, Prologue, and Epilogue. If the author’s name sounds familiar, it should. Hand-selected by Diana as her chosen biographer, Andrew Morton wrote the controversial Diana: Her True Story with Diana’s secret collaboration. Published in 1992, the book stood the public’s perception of both the Princess and the British monarchy on its ear.

In Diana: In Pursuit of Love, Morton offers a finely drawn portrait of an intensely complicated young woman who was both vilified and adored by those inside and outside the royal family. Morton writes as a reporter chronicling the ups and downs of the Princess’s up-and-down life. Chapters include Hard Road to Freedom, the Year of Living Dangerously, In Search of Love, a Princess to the World, Fakes, Forgeries and Secret Tapes, the Long Goodbye, The Crowning of the Queen of Hearts, The Final Odyssey, and the Curse of the Lost Princess. Writes Morton:

“She was a curious, and for many, an unsettling combination – a sophisticated woman of the world able to discuss death and dying with the Archbishop of Canterbury one minute, yet innocent of the ways of the world. A socially accomplished woman who could face a sophisticated cocktail party, she had never been to a pub on her own, and neither could she boil a pan of pasta.” (p. 73).

Numerous suggestions are made that Diana had a “sheltered upbringing” and was “very immature when she married,” but it turned out that she wasn’t as malleable as the Windsor thought. It appears that neither side in the “Warring Waleses” (as well as their supporters) understood nor knew what to do with the other, and both gave as good as they got. Even so, some characters in this royal rigmarole qualify as “stand-outs”: Paul Burrell, Diana’s former butler, who once worked for Prince Charles, comes off looking like a target for skunk spray. Prince Philip appears cold, distant, and demanding. Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, is conniving, two-faced and ingratiating. Prince Charles is a narcissistic, pompous stuffed-shirt with all the warmth of an Inuit igloo. The Queen Mother is positively Antarctic. The only member of the monarchy who looks like another other than an exhibit at the wax museum is the Queen, who seemed determinedly above the fray, exhibiting a dignified detachment or “ostriching” – Diana’s term.

A frequent theme throughout this tome, which includes a Timeline of Diana’s life, a Bibliography of some thirty-five additional sources and eleven=page Index, is Diana as a “woman driven by her emotions” who trusted her “instincts” more than her intellect. Diana is described as “sharp-witted, strikingly attractive and capricious” with a “superficial sociable cheeriness beneath which lay a deep-seated sadness, usually well-hidden.”

Diana reportedly bridles at attempts by the royal family to paint her as mentally and/or emotionally unstable. However, if Pursuit is accurate, they had plenty of ammo: calling male and female friends twenty times a day (or more) “in need of comfort or advice,” clandestine meetings with married men such as art dealer Oliver Hoare and rugby star Will Carling, immersing herself in the lives of men whom she was attracted to – usually married - to the point of obsession, and other behaviors that many might consider neurotic or just plain kooky. Morton is lavish in his explanation of Diana’s behaviors during the Kensington Palace in-fighting, frequently citing “royal pressure” or something similar. Justly or otherwise, Diana may have earned some of her own headlines as a “home wrecker” or descriptions as a “bored, manipulative and selfish princess” (p. 123) who “needed constant reassurances that she was loved” (p. 124).

According to Pursuit, Diana was an outsider before, during and after she left the “constraining, invasive and alienating” life of Kensington Palace. In the royal kerfuffle surrounding the Waleses collapsed marriage – and there’s plenty of blame to go around – Morton cites matters that may have made the disintegrating ties insurmountable – Charles’ adultery and the tight-lipped, manipulative, cliquishness of his family and staff.

Morton includes a sizeable chunk of Diana’s personal vision, post-divorce, as she sought to carve out a role for herself independent of Buckingham Palace, including her frequent visits to the homeless and hospices. “These visits were part of her healing process” writes Morton. “In the world she lived in, everyone’s motives were suspect; everyone had an agenda, either to influence her judgments or further their own careers and lives. On the other hand, the people she was visiting lived in a different world – one which had no hold over her.” And “The Princess’s day-to-day life was filled with rumor and hearsay of plots and counterplots. Rarely a day went by at Kensington Palace without there being some excursion and alarm” (p. 79)

A perhaps unintentional view of Diana may emerge that some readers, particularly non-British, may garner: spoiled rich kid. The sheer volume of resources Diana availed herself of as she strove to “discover herself” would stagger the average person: voice coaches, speech writers, masseurs, hair dressers, security details, press secretaries, ladies-in-waiting, therapists, interior designers, personal trainers, and chauffeurs, and so on is immense and ever-changing. Not to mention the yacht cruises, vacations in Paris, worldwide travel and life in the lap of luxury that apparently come with a Windsorian title may leave some readers shaking their heads.

The book also chronicles the “whispering campaigns” against Diana launched “from St. James’ Palace” (Prince Charles’ camp). Endless descriptions of Diana as “incredibly lonely and depressed” or “a deeply troubled young lady” prior to her separation from Charles are just that – endless. (Some may deem them tedious.) Morton also narrates Diana’s difficult relationship with her grandmother, Lady Ruth Fermoy, “a close friend of and lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother.” The latter frequently referred to Diana as “that silly creature” and other pejoratives. Morton also chronicles Diana’s rekindled relationships with her once-estranged stepmother, Raine Spencer, and the “tidal relationship” with her mother, Frances Shand Kidd.

Morton also covers Diana’s official separating from Prince Charles, and her struggles to free herself from the artificiality and “flummery” of the royal family and establish her own independence. The Windsor family’s frosty hostility and her attempts to care out a niche for herself as a “goodwill ambassador to the world” via her humanitarian and charitable work are presented at length. Diana’s devastating 1995 interview with Panorama is also included and reviewed. Meanwhile, from his royal temper tantrums to extravagant eccentricities, such as carrying “his own towels and lavatory paper to every house in which he stayed,” (p. 166), Charles is painted as, well, what stinks worse than a skunk?

The book winds down with a detailed review of the Princess’s successful and perhaps brilliant “re-invention” of herself as a “semi-detached member of the royal family.” This includes Diana’s famous anti-landmine campaign, various romantic involvements, hospital visits to the sick and dying, her last days with Dodi Fayed and the ill-fated high-speed drive through the streets of Paris on the night of August 31, 1997.

If you’re into soap operas or want an honest look at a troubled, gutsy and highly complicated woman whose life was tragically cut short, Diana: In Pursuit of Love is a great read. If you tire easily of quid pro quos, ad hominems, and cloak-and-dagger palace intrigue, you’ll need No-Doze for this one.

Perhaps overlong and tedious at times, Pursuit still succeeds in capturing the essence of a remarkable woman who remains a conundrum even to those closest to her, a Princess who fought for and ultimately changed the face of the British monarchy forever.


Diana: In Pursuit of Love
By Andrew Morton
Michael O’Mara Books Limited, 2004
ISBN: 1-84317-084-1

Walking With God

When’s the last time you heard God’s voice? What if it was just a second ago and you missed it? Wouldn’t it be amazing to hear God speaking directly to you; to know His counsel and encouragement for today? In Walking with God, John Eldredge, author of the bestsellers Wild at Heart and Captivating, shows you what it’s like to have “conversational intimacy” with the Father. Through personal reflections from his own spiritual life, Eldredge helps you recognize the sound of God’s voice. You can experience a spiritual life more rich and exhilarating than you’ve ever known.

John Eldredge's newest release, Walking With God, (Thomas Nelson, 2008) is one of th emost extraordinary books I've ever read. For more, click here:

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=25a7575ebf6c3112dbfa

"A River Runs Through It"

“Long ago, when I was a young man, my father said to me, "Norman, you like to write stories." And I said "Yes, I do." Then he said, "Someday, when you're ready you might tell our family story. Only then will you understand what happened and why."

These are the poignant, mysterious lines opening Robert Redford’s A River Runs Through It (1992, PG). I missed this movie when it first came out and just saw it recently on video. It was a garage sale cast-off. My neighbor couldn’t sell it and gave it to me. I watched it, didn’t like it, and promptly consigned A River to dust bunny exile until another friend suggested I check out the soundtrack. I did. Something unexpected happened while listening to Mark Isham’s Academy-Award nominated score over and over again: I began to understand the movie’s unspoken undercurrents and emotion. Intrigued by its hauntingly beautiful music, I decided to give A River another go. I’m glad I did.

Set in the early 20th century in Missoula, Montana, this enigmatic story centers around brothers Norman (Craig Sheffer) and Paul (Brad Pitt) Maclean, two sons of a Scottish Presbyterian minister played with consummate skill by Tom Skerritt. The quintessential big brother, Norman is reserved, scholarly and sensitive. Younger sibling Paul(ie) is rebellious, loquacious, a hard drinker, gambler, and brawler. Neither is an entirely agreeable character, neither is entirely disagreeable. Like most real people, these brothers have unique strengths and weaknesses and try to help each other through life without fully understanding who the other person truly is.

While I still don’t “like” A River Runs Through It in the sense that it’s an upbeat, easy-to-watch, “feel good” fluff piece, the movie offers a rare blend of affection, distance, dimension, beauty, insight and heartbreak that’s both mysterious and captivating. At times the river seemingly embodies the Maclean family history: placid and serene on the surface, with occasional ripples and swells suggesting deep water or dangerous rapids ahead.

Based on a novella by author Norman Maclean, through whose eyes the story is told, the screenplay brings a literary quality to the screen that’s beautiful and moving. Combined with Academy-Award winning cinematography, solid performances all-around, and a story that’s alternately evocative, taciturn, lively, and tragic, A River Runs Through It represents a formidable cinematic achievement of depth, perception, and substance.

In the opening sequences, both young boys and father are united in their love for nature, the Big Blackfoot River and fly-fishing. Rev. Maclean teaches his boys the fine art of casting to a four-count rhythm cadenced by a metronome. Along the river they share experiences, casting techniques, stunning scenery, stories and life. Fishing scenes throughout the film create the sense that each man is at peace with himself and each other at the river while remaining distinctly separate and alone, as does the whole family in this elegant, elegiac story.

Much of the power of this story is gained from its subtlety, which is created and sustained by the narration and masterful direction of Robert Redford. Rather than resorting to spectacular special effects, mind-numbing dialogue or the gratuitous sex and violence so commonly employed by lesser storytellers with thinner plots, A River expects audiences to pick up on various cues and clues peppered throughout the screenplay with just enough seasoning to maintain full flavor. A refreshing change from the typical bash-you-over-the-head-with-its-point kind of movie, A River relies on nuance and subtlety to convey its message.

Some viewers – perhaps the less literary among us – have tagged this movie “boring.” So did I, until I gave it a second chance. The story moves at a graceful pace while requiring viewers to engage their minds and hearts to follow a film that ultimately offers more questions than answers.

Underlying themes may include a covert sibling rivalry between Norman and Paul. It breaks into the open just once – in a kitchen fist fight – but the undercurrents in tone, gesture, facial features and other non-verbals continue throughout the film. The movie obliquely hints at a dichotomy between Paulie “the tough guy” whose ready grin and lackadaisical, lassie-faire attitude belie an inner insecurity and perhaps some envy toward his “Rock of Gibraltar,” respectable older brother. Note Paulie’s reaction to Norman’s announcement regarding the offer of a professorship at a prestigious university in Chicago. Paulie doesn’t respond verbally, but his face and eyes speak volumes. This is coupled with Paulie’s subsequent decline of Norman’s invitation to join him and his future bride, Jessie, in leaving Montana to write for a Chicago newspaper.

“Come with us” Norman urges. “Oh, “I’ll never leave Montana, brother,” Paulie replies, chewing his lip before plunging back into the river with his rod. From the way the line is delivered and Norman’s reaction, you’re not sure if it’s a rebuke, a prophecy, or an eulogy. Whatever it is, the assertion underscores Paulie’s continuing struggle to find his own way in life outside of his big brother’s shadow. He then determinedly skims down the rapids to land an “unbelievable” fish. Narrates Redford, “At that moment I knew, surely and clearly, that I was witnessing perfection.”

“You are a fine fisherman!” proclaims Rev. Maclean as “mother’s pictures” are snapped by Norman.

“My brother stood before us, not on a bank of the Bigfoot River, but suspended above the earth, free from all its laws, like a work of art. And I knew, just as surely and clearly, that life is not a work of art, and that the moment could not last.”

*** SPOILER ALERT ***

Norman’s premonition proves true in the movie’s compelling closing scenes. The Missoula police inform Norman that his brother has been found dead, “beaten to death by the butt of a revolver.” We’re not told exactly how or why this happened, but gather that Paul’s murder is connected to his gambling debts and profligate lifestyle.

The impact on the family is quietly immense. Echoing themes throughout the movie, family members are both together and alone in their grief at the same time. Visibly shaken, his mother wordlessly retires upstairs. “Is there anything else you can tell me?” Rev. Maclean quietly asks.

“Nearly all of the bones in his hand were broken” replies Norman grimly, his stoic monotone belying a face etched with pain, shock, and traces of guilt.

Pause. His father, still in his bathrobe, stands and gently asks, “Which hand?”

“His right hand.”

As has occurred before in this under-stated film, the obvious is left unsaid: Paul’s right hand was his fly-fishing casting hand. We get the impression that Norman spends the rest of his days struggling with his brother’s untimely death as well as the bigger question: Who was this brother of mine?

“Maybe all I really knew about Paul is that he was a fine fisherman” Redford narrates. “`You know more than that’,” my father said. ‘He was beautiful.’ And that was the last time we ever spoke of my brother’s death.”

Only at the end does it become clear that Paul is meant to be a beautiful mystery. He’s an enigma to viewers because Norman can’t understand him any better than we can. Shortly before his own death, Rev. Maclean preaches a sermon that sums up the meaning of the film: "It is those we love and should know who elude us. But we can still love them. We can love completely, without complete understanding."

A River isn’t for everyone. I found the profanity and alcoholic consumption excessive and some minor scenes objectionable but not unreasonable given the subject and its characters. It’s not an “easy” movie to watch in the sense that you can allow your mind to wander and still pick up on the visual and non-verbal clues concealed within its gentle subtext. This movie takes some attentive digging. But for those who appreciate a lavishly photographed, skillfully sequenced, superbly acted and subtlely nuanced study of family life and relationships, A River Runs Through It is one of the finest.

“I am haunted by waters” is the final emotion-laden line of this remarkable movie. An old man who’s out-lived nearly everyone he loved, Norman once again stands solo in the river with his fly-fishing rod and his memories. “Alone in the half-light of the canyon with the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and a four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish will rise. … Eventually, all things merge into one. And a river runs through it. I am haunted by waters.” Bring Kleenex.

Above All

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Endurance: An Epic of Polar Adventure

Endurance: an Epic of Polar Adventure
By F.A. Worsley
W.W. Norton & Company, 1931
ISBN: 0-393-04684-2

They say truth is stranger than fiction. Endurance: An Epic of Polar Adventure is a sterling example. This riveting first-person narrative of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914 – 1916 recounts an extraordinary survival story replete with close calls, near misses, imminent disaster, and harrowing escapes. It’s a true story “of invincible endurance and irrepressible humor through hardship and danger” in the face of overwhelming odds.

Sir Ernest Shackleton set off to cross Antarctica, a journey of more than 2,000 miles. Although his ship Endurance was wrecked before he set foot on the “most desolate, storm-swept place on earth,” Shackleton and his men pulled off the greatest escape in the history of polar expedition. I’ve read and seen several accounts of this “bottom-of-the world” adventure, but none so detailed or compelling as the account of author Frank Arthur Worsley, commander of the doomed HMS Endurance.

Shackleton and his crew leave South Georgia, an island in the South Atlantic Ocean, in December 1914. While the ship makes good progress initially and pushes her way through thick pack ice off Antarctica, the wind shifts and closes the narrow channels or "leads", packing ice floes around the ship until she’s stuck like a fly in honey. During the long winter the pack ice carries the Endurance almost 600 miles north.

In July 1915 Shackleton conferences with Worsley and Frank Wild, Shackleton’s second in command. “The Boss” prophesies of the Endurance: “She’s pretty near her end.” He’s right. A “splendid little ship,” the plucky Endurance eventually succumbs to the enormous pressure of thousands of tons of ice and hoves onto her side. The crew salvages what supplies and stores they can just before she goes under, along with three life boats. The ship finally shatters and sinks, leaving twenty-eight members of the Expedition shelterless in the one of the harshest, most inhospitable regions imaginable.

At Shackleton’s direction, the crew initially camps on drifting ice floes dubbed “Ocean Camp” and “Patience Camp” and allows the current to carry them north to safety. During this time Worsley recounts encounters with sea leopards, Emperor penguins, and deprivation – “we had been living for some weeks principally on seals and penguins” and when these migrated away, the men were reduced to “fourteen ounces of food a day” - which resulted not only in physical weakness but also a significantly reduced ability to fight the intense cold. Worsley recalls the “sad day” when all of the dogs, save one team, “had to be destroyed, to save food.” Despite the omnipresent threat of exposure, frostbite, thirst, starvation and other adversities, Worsley dubs “the dreaded monotony” as the expedition’s worst enemy. They are saved from starvation by a flock of migrating Adelie penguins.

After five months of drifting and countless dangers on the floes, the crew sights the Antarctic Continent in March 1916. Shackleton has brought them safely through two thousand miles of pack ice (p. 65). Deciding upon a safer but longer route to the nearest island to avoid more deadly pack ice, Shackleton orders the men to prepare to sail for the forbidding Elephant Island.
Worsley narrates the crew’s reaction to Shackleton’s decision, “… for most of us, I think our former lives had receded to that dim and shadowy vagueness usually associated with drams… I was unable to picture an existence in which a desert of ice and snow, battles with sea leopards, the dread killer whales, and a regard for penguins as almost personal friends did not play a part.”
The floe cracks and the crew hurriedly launches the boats and embarks upon a hair-raising journey across the Southern Ocean to Elephant Island. On the stormy crossing the crews of the three boats – the Stancomb Wills, Dudley Docker and the James Caird – fight to stay together against blizzards, contrary currents, starvation, exhaustion and a voracious ocean that constantly threatens to swamp the small boats. Only the thinnest sliver of hope and a huge chunk of confidence in Sir Ernest keep his men going. Worsley describes the journey through “white hills of ice-clad sea, capricious currents, constant, unrelenting cold,” sleep deprivation, exhaustion and exposure in an orderly, almost calm narrative without a trace of self-pity, panic, or despair. The men had such faith in their leader that the thought of failure never took hold. (See pages 83, 84, 86 and 88.)

Separated from the two other boats, Worsley and his men endure a hellacious night in the Dudley Docker before finally sighting the forbidding the coast of Elephant Island. Worsley and his crew eventually land on “a low, rocky beach” and are overjoyed to find the two other boats at the same location, which Worsley describes as “a gigantic mass of rock, carrying on its back a vast sheet of ice.”

The full weight of responsibility for the safety and well-being of his men falls solely and wholly on Shackleton, whose self-sacrificing devotion to his men was legendary: “He was not only the leader of a great expedition but a true brother and shipmate to each one of us, thinking of us always before himself.” In the wild, inhospitable, inaccessible environment of Elephant Island, this responsibility would have crushed a lesser man than the indomitable Shackleton:

- “It was due solely to Shackleton’s care of the men in preparing … hot meals and drinks every four hours day and night, and his general watchfulness in everything concerning the men’s comfort, that no one died during the journey (to South Georgia).”

- “Shackleton’s popularity among those he led was due to the fact that he was not the sort of man who could do only big and spectacular things. When occasion demanded he would attend personally to the smallest details, and he had unending patience and persistence which he would apply to all matters concerning the well-being of his men.”

- “Shackleton had always insisted that the ultimate responsibility for anything that befell us was his and his only. … My view was that we were all grown men, going of our own free wills on this expedition, and that it was up to us to bear whatever was coming to us. Not so Shackleton. His view was that we had trusted him, that we had placed ourselves in his hands, and that should anything happen to any one of us, he was morally responsible. His attitude was almost patriarchal. True, this may have accounted in some measure for the men’s unquestioning devotion to him, and it always seemed to me that they bore toward him the love of sons for a singularly noble father…”


In the chapter entitled On Elephant Island, Worsley describes Shackleton’s extraordinary leadership abilities. The Boss quickly discerns that a severe food shortage is imminent on Elephant Island. The consummate commander, Sir Ernest acts swiftly and decisively. He readies a twenty-two foot boot for the “forlorn hope” of sailing across “the most treacherous seas in the world” in the dead of an Antarctic winter to South Georgia Island, some eight hundred miles away. The odds of success are staggeringly slim, but Shackleton and five others remain undaunted and resolute. Reaching South Georgia Island and launching a rescue effort is the expedition’s sole hope of survival.

Leaving Frank Wild in charge on Elephant Island, Worsley and Shackleton and five others set out. Worsley describes the scene the night before the leave: “It is a dreadful thing to face your shipmates, men who have been through thick and thin with you, and to realize that in all probability it is for the last time; nor does it add to your serenity of mind to know that if you fail to come back they will starve to death.”

Worsley concludes On Elephant Island with thoughts of the men left behind: “…I felt that whatever hardships we might be called upon to face, we were the fortunate ones. Inactivity and uncertainty would come harder to men of the type of my shipmates than the unknown adventure that was before us.” He adds pointedly, “We had in fact started on the greatest adventure of our career.”

In chapter VI, The Boat Journey Begins, Worsley chronicles some of the challenges facing the determined little crew of the James Caird in their desperate attempt to sail north:

- Finding a way of breaking through the encircling line of pack-ice to north of Elephant Island so they can make for the open water
-Constant risk of being smashed by sea ice
-Being constantly wet for the duration of the journey
- Frozen reindeer skin sleeping bags
- Contaminated fresh water
- Being battered by blizzards and ferocious storms

Deciding upon the best point to make for, Shackleton emphasizes getting north as quickly as possible, “even though the route might be lengthened, so as to avoid all danger of ice and to relieve us from the almost overwhelming cold”:

“What do you think of Cape Horn?” he asked, adding, “it’s the nearest.”
“Yes,” I replied, “but we can never reach it. The westerly gales would blow us away. With luck, though, we might fetch the Falkland Islands.”
“I am afraid that, although it is the longest run,” he remarked, “we shall have to make for South Georgia, as you originally suggested. The gales will drive us leeward.” And do they do, but not without incident on what Worsley understates as an”eventful and truly dreadful journey.”
They finally land on South Georgia, but on the opposite side of the Norwegian whaling station and help. The boats isn’t safe to put to sea again, nor are some members of the crew, who are too weak to continue. So Shackleton, Worsley and Tom Crean “rope up” and set out to cross the uncharted “impassable” interior of South Georgia Island. Worsley later records:

Without sleep, halting only for meals, we had crossed South Georgia in thirty six hours. Incidentally, he continues, “I learnt afterwards that we had crossed the island during the only interval of fine weather that occurred that winter. There was no doubt that Providence had been with us. There was indeed one curious thing about our crossing South Georgia… which I have never been able to explain. Whenever I reviewed the incidents of that march I had the sub-conscious feeling that there were four of us, instead of three. Moreover, this impression was shared by both Shackleton and Crean.

The exhausted trio stumbles into the whaling station on South Georgia on May 20. Three days later Shackleton and Worsley leave the island aboard a whaler bound for Elephant Island, determined to rescue their marooned shipmates. Weather forces them to turn back within sixty miles of Elephant Island. Heroic efforts to secure another vessel and safe passage finally pay off – on their fourth attempt. The strain of Shackleton and concern for his men is recorded by Worsley, who writes: “Lines scored themselves on his face more deeply day by day; his thick, dark, wavy hair was becoming silver. He had not a grey hair when we had started out to rescue our men the first time. Now, on the third return journey, he was grey-headed.”

It is August 30, 1916. “One hundred and twenty-eight days since we had left them” writes Worsley, “days covering the worse of the Antarctic winter.” One of the most poignant passages in this narrative appears on page 179 as Shackleton, on his fourth attempt at rescue, peers “with almost painful intensity through his binoculars” at the near coast of Elephant Island. He’s counting: “There are only two, Skipper!” Then, `No, four!’ A short pause followed and he exclaimed, `I see six-eight-‘ and at last, in a voice ringing with joy he cried, `They are all there! Every one of them! They are all saved!””

A boat is lowered and Shackleton leaps into it. “And as he drew close into the shore I hear him shout: `Are you all well?’ Back came their answering yell, `All well!’ followed by his wholehearted `Thank God!’

It is an historical fact that not a single man was ever lost in any expedition headed by Ernest Shackleton.

The narrative drops off precipitously following the Elephant Island rescue, but picks up steam on page 251, Southwards Again, when Worsley rejoins his old friend for another assault on the Antarctic. The year is 1922. Sadly, the return expedition isn’t meant to be. The author’s “best friend” dies of a massive heart attack in his cabin on South Georgia Island on January 5, days before his return to most desolate, storm-swept place on earth” that proved his mettle and made him a hero. Shackleton is buried on South Georgia Island.

Worsley’s final chapter, The Death of A Hero, sensitively records the final scene with affection and admiration that shine through in every paragraph. “He had a way of compelling loyalty” writes one who sailed with him. “We would have gone anywhere without question just on his order.” Asks Worsley rhetorically, “What more glowing tribute could any man wish for?”

Indeed, Endurance isn't just “a tale of unrelenting high adventure,” but a tribute “to one of the most inspiring and courageous leaders of men in the history of exploration.” This book is a compelling look into the heart and soul of a man whose extraordinary sagacity, capability, kindliness, courage and “wonderful capacity for self-sacrifice” set a standard for Leadership that still makes the world sit back and wonder. An outstanding read.

Walking With Saints

Of Walking with Saints Through the Best and Worst Times of Our Lives (Calvin Miller, Thomas Nelson, 1995), Dallas Willard (Professor Philosophy, USC), says:

“Walking with the author and these saints for a few weeks of meditative reading will open your life for Jesus to walk through it.”

You betcha.

To be sure, most of the saints referenced in Walking are of the Catholic tradition. I am not. I may not necessarily embrance every word of every Writing featured and elucidated by author Calvin Miller, but that’s not the point. To be redundant, The Point is to point readers to Christ. Miller does this masterfully, even majestically. Writings include:

Beginning the Journey with Saint Augustine: Seven Footsteps of Christ’s Coming into Our Lives

Arriving at Security with Madame Guyon: Six Defenses for Triumphing Over Fear

Finding Purpose in Life with Brother Lawrence: Five Means of Attaining Purity of Life

Healing Depression with Teresa of Avila: Five Windows of Light

Winning by Oneing with Julian of Norwich: Julian’s Three Gifts

Pilgrim’s Progress with John Bunyan: Seven Stations on the Journey of Life

The Penial God with the Unknown Author of The Cloud of Unknowing: Distinguishing Active and Passive Christianity

Conquering Pride with Bernard of Clairvaux: The Descent into Decadence

Sanctifying the Secular with Jean-Pierre de Caussade: Four Ways to Sanctify the Secular

Imitating Christ with Thomas a Kempis: Submission vs. Ambition in the Obedient Life

To be sure, Walking is not a “coffee table” type welterweight of a book. Miller expects - indeed, requires - his readers to think, to actively engage with the text on a level far beyond a yawn or a shoulder shrug. For those willing to do the work, however, Walking serves up hearty helpings of “soul food.” Well worth the read!

Just Like Jesus

Just Like Jesus
By Max Lucado (Word Publishing, 1990)

Max Lucado has long been one of my favorite authors. Why I missed JLJ until I hauled it out of the church library last week, I can’t explain. But I’m glad I found it.

Max’s thesis is simple: “God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be… just like Jesus.”

Max shows us how with his signature homespun homilies, gentle humor and personal anecdotes. But he does more. In chapters such as A Heart Like His, A Changed Face and a Set of Wings, Nothing but the Truth, Finding Gold in Garbage, When Heaven Celebrates, Hearing God’s Music and Finishing Strong, Max not only shows us how but why God transforms us to become more and more like His son.

In typical Max tympany, Lucado tunes up our heart strings and urges closer attention to the Conductor while directing his unique harmony of wholesome humor (defining “Stuckitis” from chapter two, Loving People You Are Stuck With, for example), quick wit and artful arias of insight and inspiration. The result is a wonderul, articulate symphony of Biblical exegesis and practical application.

Just Like Jesus is just another great Max book. Includes a chapter-by-chapter study guide. Great small group study.

Ruby Slippers

Book review: Ruby Slippers: How the Soul of a Woman Brings Her Home
By Jonalyn Grace Fincher
Zondervan, 2007
ISBN:-10: 0-310-27243-2

Talk about a breath of fresh air.

I ordered Jonalyn Grace Fincher’s Ruby Slippers with some misgiving, especially when I noted the subtitle: How the Soul of a Woman Brings Her Home. I hoped this book wasn’t another worn-out rehash of “the Proverbs 31 woman” or a trip down the “yellow brick road” equating Christian femininity with Suzy Homemaker, June Cleaver, and “married with children.” It isn’t. Carefully integrating philosophy, psychology, theology, history, women’s studies and “my own walk with Christ into a primer on the woman’s soul” (p. 193), Ruby Slippers is a much-needed and long overdue look at God’s ideas about womanhood. It shows how women are unique bearers of the imago dei and celebrates the soul of a woman within a thoroughly sound context of biblical truth.

Intelligent and incisive, Ruby Slippers is alert, agile, and penetrating without being pompous or trite. It avoids strait-jacketed “Christian stereotypes” and clears the way of narrow definitions, presumptions and prejudices to find out what makes women different and precious. Through careful biblical exegesis, meticulous research, thoughtful analysis and a well-rounded philosophical approach, Fincher shows us the real soul of a woman and its inestimable worth as a unique reflection of God’s nature.

Early on, Fincher issues “one important caveat: I am not claiming to have the final words on women” or “an exhaustive index on femininity or the only biblical model for Christian womanhood,” leaving the door open for further discussion. She also provides “Soul Care” questions at the end of each chapter for further thought.

In terms of writing style, Fincher’s is generally tight, crisp, and lean. She shares personal anecdotes and experiences and analyzes vast quantities of data through a biblical grid. The author also brings an essential that’s often lacking in many “women’s ministry” paradigms and “women’s Bible study” authors: demonstrable expertise and impeccable educational credentials. She’s done her homework and has the background and qualifications to give this book gravitas. (Fincher holds a double Bachelor’s degree in English and history from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in philosophy of religion and ethics from Talbot School of Theology, my alma mater.)

Sumptuously sprinkled throughout the main text are relevant observations from such Christian luminaries as C.S. Lewis, Henri Nouwen, G.K. Chesterton and Dorothy Sayers, to name a few. The material bogs down momentarily in Chapter 2, Uncorking the Soul, with a somewhat overlong discussion of soul and spirit, but it picks up steam thereafter. The discussion on The Same Planet in Chapter 3 regarding “gender roles”, “equal without being identical” and “similar though not the same” is delicious.

Further on, Fincher masterfully deconstructs John Gray’s “men are from Mars, women are from Venus” mythology, and the inadequate, incomplete “helper” rendering of Genesis 2, among others: “… contrary to popular pagan myths, contrary to Goddess Earth myths, and contrary to much Churchianity, God makes Woman to provide and offer the hope, the ezer for Man.”

Other myths put to rest include: “East of Eden” femininity, “godly submission,” “the weaker vessel” and “boutique form(s) of gnosticism and neo-paganism” which glories “fertile, female bodies over female souls.”

More stand-out sections include Prescription Lists, Corsets and Slippers that Don’t Fit (pp. 14 – 18), Why the Trinity Dignifies Women (pp. 156 -158), Natural Femininity (pp. 102 -140), Learning from Women (pp. 159 – 164) and Jesus in Female Form (pp. 185 -186).

As beautifully and as nimbly crafted as the Emerald City, Ruby Slippers is a ground-breaking work with much to offer in the on-going discussion of gender theory, cultural stereotypes and authentic Christian femininity. This fine work is perhaps best summarized in Fincher’s own words: “I am becoming more free. Not free to live out my dominations or check off my lists or squeeze into a corset. But free to be more like the triune God, the way he has redeemed me: fully female, fully human.”

Indeed, these Slippers are as welcome as Glinda’s “Toto, too.” Five stars.

Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be:
A 90-Day Guide to Living the Proverbs 31 Life
By Donna Partow
Revell, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3072-7
(This is a shortened version of a detailed review by our friends at HEvencense. The longer version will be available soon.)

Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be is a mixed bag. It has definite strengths and some distinct weaknesses.

On the plus side is Becoming’s readability, style, tone and format. Partow’s style is brisk and engaging. Her tone is warm, congenial and passionate. Becoming offers readers numerous strategies for change in different areas including physical health, family relationships, finances and spiritual growth in an easy to follow format.

Chapters average three to five pages in length and are easily digested. Also included is a daily Scripture to memorize, a Bible passage, and a guided prayer, followed by Personal and Practical sections. Each week wraps up with a Weekly Check-Up, a Practical Checklist, and a Weekly Reflection and Evaluation.

Sound or Silly?
There is much to commend in Week One, Faith Foundations, and Week Two, Godly Habits. However, bits and pieces of “excuse me?” seep in occasionally. Some readers may file the recommendations on Day 11, Sleep in Peace (p. 56), and Day 12, Be Diligent (p. 59), under Micro-Managing Minutia or Just Plain Silly:

“I’m sure the snooze button was inspired by the devil. It’s his secret weapon against Christians… if he can get you to snooze away the thirty minutes you would have, could have, should have spent with God, the devil has the upper hand against you for the rest of the day.” (p. 61).

Insufficient and Curious?
Becoming the Woman God Wants You to Be stumbles in two areas: sourcing and biblical exegesis. Support from credible sources and/or credentialed experts within this work is insufficient or M.I.A. It also offers some curious biblical exegesis. Since it is beyond the scope of this review to undertake an intensive page-by-page analysis of this book, we’ll focus primarily on these two areas.

Sources?
Take a look at Week Three, Healthy Eating (pp. 68 – 88). Some great ideas and guidelines here, but a fair amount of this material is either attributed to sources with questionable or unlikely credentials, or not sourced at all. In this week the author lays out what foods to eat and avoid, urges a ten-day vegetable and water only diet, and lands at Day 17, Limit Your Sugar Intake (pp. 74 – 77).

Day 17 references data from www.drbob4health.com/FoodsToAvoid. The information on this site is credited to Dr. Robert F. DeMaria, D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic) of “Drugless Healthcare Solutions.” The site focuses primarily on “correcting the spine and aiding the nervous system… so the body will draw upon its own ability to heal itself” – not on nutrition or healthy eating specifically.

Wouldn’t a registered dietician or nutritionist make a more credible source here? Additionally, declarative statements such as the following cite dubious sources or appear to be unsourced (further information may be available in other Partow books or resources, but we’re not reviewing the gamut here – just the single title noted.):

-- “The up and down motion of rebounding stimulates the lymphatic system, promoting more efficient cell-cleansing processes.” (p. 101)
-- “In addition to eating right, one of the kindest things you can for yourself… is taking time to bathe. Did you know that bathing is important for your physical well-being? A shower may be convenient, but it doesn’t accomplish the same degree of cleansing a bath can.” (p. 104)
-- “A cleansing bath can purify your body from the toxins that have built up in your body. This is especially important when you start to exercise and eat foods that promote detoxification.” (p. 104)
-- “Furthermore, if toxins are not rapidly eliminated from the body, they can become reassimilated.” (p. 105)

“Points to Ponder”
Week Six, Financial Planning (p.134-155) is perhaps the weakest part of this book. The author makes huge assumptions regarding income level, homeowner status, assets and liabilities, investments and the like. Partow tosses dollar amounts - often in the ten of thousands - which may leave some readers shaking their heads. Others may detect a sneering attitude toward “the poor and middle class” (see p. 139). The number of times the word “millionaire” appears borders on rapacious. This reviewer also questions the numerous “become a millionaire” schemes or proponents referenced. Again, sources such as Allen, Brach and Kiyosaki are problematic.

A quick “Google” of Robert Allen shows why he’s earned the title of “con artist,” “snake oil salesman,” “fraud,” and “scammer,” among others. (Check out the Business Program Reviewer for one example.)

“Financial guru” David Bach, author of The Automatic Millionaire, is noted in Days 40 and 79 and elsewhere. Click here for some feedback on Bach’s figures and techniques: http://www.thetaoofmakingmoney.com/2007/05/31/383.html.

What’s Ringing?
“Scam”, “fraud” and “one of the worst” are linked with Robert Kiyosaki (Days 37 and 51. Also see p. 139, etc.). Kiyosaki’s 'Rich Dad' organization recently joined with the Russ Whitney Information Network, “a provider of postsecondary education focused on individual wealth creation and personal success.” This organization’s marketing activities came under grand jury investigation by the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in 2006. (http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/226/RipOff0226341.htm.)
Does this ring any warning bells? If sources are dubious, marginally credible/ethical and possibly illegal, how sound are the principles and practices they promote?

Direct What?
In Day 52, Try Direct Marketing, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Pampered Chef and Creative Memories are mentioned (p. 193). Not mentioned is that each company requires a start-up fee or a similar capital investment, some of them hefty. Consultants for these companies typically offer credit and payment plan options to potential clients unable to pay cash for their purchases, contradicting Partow’s advice in Days 38 and 39, Reduce Your Debt (pp. 141 – 144) and Pay Cash (pp. 144 – 147).

Look Before You Leap
The section on “Home Enterprises” (pp. 184-201) may be risky. Legitimate “work from home” businesses can be hard to find. Look before you leap – or invest. (As noted above, Robert Allen and Robert Kiyosaki-isms referenced here may give cause for pause.)

Hmmmm…
In addition to dubious sourcing, alert readers may wonder about some of Partow’s biblical exegeses/applications. In Day 16, Resolve to Control Your Eating Habits, Partow uses Daniel 1:11-15 as a basis for taking “the ten-day vegetable-and-water-resolve challenge.” (p. 74a).

In its historical-cultural context, the Israelites were in Babylonian captivity at this time. They avoided food from King Nebuchadnezzar’s table because it was considered contaminated, having first been offered to idols. Likewise a portion of the wine was poured out on a pagan altar. Daniel and his young comrades avoided meat from the king’s table because ceremonially unclean animals were used and were neither slaughtered nor prepared according to the regulations of the law. Daniel “resolved not to defile himself with royal food and wine” (vs. 8) because of religious convictions. Coupled with Proverbs 31: 14-15, Day 16 seems to miss the point of this passage. (See Romans 14:2 for another view on eating vegetables.)

Also consider this statement from pages 75 - 76 (under Week Three: Healthy Eating):

“I find it fascinating that Adam and Eve both needed new outfits after demonstrating their inability to resist food temptations.”

Is she trying to be funny? Apparently this is a reference to Genesis 3:21, where God provided clothing for Adam and Eve to cover their shame, post-Fall (cf. v.7 and 10). Healthy eating is one thing, but attributing God’s clothing Adam and Eve to a mere “inability to resist food temptations” is curious. It also trivializes the context and consequences of the Fall and Original Sin.

Real Routines?
Check out some of the suggested routines, such Day 26 (p. 104-105). Here Partow urges readers to Purify Body and Soul by eating “cleansing foods.” This includes a breakfast of “two eggs scrambled with vegetables (for example, broccoli, onion, garlic, pepper) or a protein shake made with one cup cranwater, one cup frozen blueberries, one-quarter cup frozen cranberries, one tablespoon flax oil, and one scoop of protein powder” (p. 104).

Can you just see a young mom with small children sitting down to a breakfast like that? “Not now, kids, Mommy’s eating her cleansing breakfast!”

Yea or Nay?
Some women may find Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be a useful guide or tool. If fill-in-the-blank exercises, check lists, and step-by-step programs appeal to you, this is your book. Ditto those who need help with how to dress, choose colors, accessorize, eat, exercise, live within their means, and “implement the universal 80/20 rule.”

On the other hand, readers may find dubious sourcing, flimsy or unsubstantiated claims and curious application(s) sufficient cause for pause. They may also take issue with matters of opinion, personal preference or taste which this book sometimes raises to the level of religious dogma.

Finally….
I’ve taken several Old Testament Literature and Inductive Bible Study courses on Proverbs 31 at the graduate level and elsewhere. I’ve also read a dozen-plus titles and numerous Bible studies on this passage. Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be is better than most, but it also has some distinct weaknesses. Be advised and take it with a grain of salt.