Pastoral Ponderings » book review

The Ordinary Hero (1)

Tim V-B — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:31:33 +0000

At the Keswick Convention last week I pickup up a copy of Tim Chester’s latest book, The Ordinary Hero.

Click here to buy from Amazon

Having read it I must say this: it’s fantastic. Read it!

So good, in fact, that it is a likely contender for my “First book to give to a Christian to read” prize (after the Bible, of course). As someone with a wall full of books, that’s quite a recommendation!

I’ll post some quotes and comments about it over the next few days / months / years (depending on whether this blog regains any sense of regular output!). For now, here is Tim Chester’s description of the book:

This hard-hitting book shows how the cross and resurrection provide the pattern for Christian discipleship, in the process calling Christians to a radical new way of living. It calls on people:
* to live out the radical implications of grace
* to apply the way of the cross, the way of sacrificial love and service, to every area of life
* to accept the pattern of suffering followed by glory as normative for Christians
* to pursue spiritual power not for its own sake, but as a means of living the weakness of the cross
* to live adventurous, risk-taking lives because we live for the world to come

And here is him describing what it’s about:

Beowulf

Tim V-B — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:15:32 +0000

Last month we had two weeks holiday and one major decision was what books to read. I’ve had a desire to read some ‘classics’ and, while browsing the library, I came across a translation of “Beowulf.” This reminded me of a Tim Keller comment about this famous poem, so I picked up the book and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The basic plot is this: Beowulf, the great hero, travels to the Dane’s Kingdom which is troubled by the monster Grendel. Beowulf fights Grendel, then has to fight Grendel’s mother who is a bit ticked off. He’s a hero, returns home and becomes king, ruling for 50 years. Then a dragon is disturbed and Beowulf dons his sword to remove this evil, which he does, at the cost of his life.

The poem was composed sometime between the middle of the seventh and end of the tenth century of the first millennium. This translation, by the poet Seamus Heaney, became the 1999 Whitbread Book of the Year. It’s fairly long – some 3000 lines – but a great read. Heaney has (to my mind at least) done a great job of translating a poem into something that is understandable and still poetic; if you read it, read it out loud (or under your breath) so you pick up the rhythms and alliteration.

The original poet was a Christian and throughout there are references to God being in ultimate control of everyone’s destiny. I’ve not seen the 2007 film but a quick look at the movie’s site shows it has monkeyed around with the original quite considerably on the dubious premise that, being written down by monks, they probably edited out all the juicy bits. I say, ignore the film, pick up this book and enjoy!

You: An Introduction

Tim V-B — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 10:44:36 +0000

It’s the question that lies behind so much of our actions and behaviour: who am I? Who are You? We live in times when asking this question is as vital as ever, yet the answers seem in short supply. Enter “You: An Introduction” by Michael Jensen.

Over 15 short chapters this book explores different aspects of what it means to be human: such as having bodies or being children. This is a fun and fascinating read. Fun because Michael Jensen writes in a conversational way about topics of immediate interest. He is happy to quote well-known theologians The Red Hot Chili Peppers alongside some dead guy called Karl Barth. Like the title, even the section headings within each chapter cause a wry smile in the reader. Fascinating because he has clearly done his research (even interviewing body piercing afficionados!) so that he writes as someone who knows both the world and the Bible. Although short, in each chapter you will find serious engagement with issues of profound significance.

Apart from the last three, there is no need to read each chapter in order. This makes it great for dipping in and out of: ideal bed time reading or, dare I say it, while sitting on the toilet! Yet from cover to cover Michael Jensen shows that the questions of who we are is essentially bound up with the question of who Jesus is. Knowledge of Christianity is never assumed; instead, you will find a compelling portrait of Jesus and a convincing discussion of his relevance.

This is a great book to give to non-Christian friends, even those who tend not to read books. Or maybe for Christians in their late teens through to early thirties. Certainly anyone will find a great deal here to enrich your thought and conversation with others. Perhaps the best way to use it would be as a conversation starter – maybe by being used as the basis for group reading and discussion. “You: An Introduction” began life as a blog and each chapter concludes with some of the comments posted online, so you feel invited to continue the discussion wherever it leads. Best of all, whether you read it individually or with others, you will discover how Jesus is the answer to our deepest questions.

Contents:

what, anxious? Me?
What You are not
life
touched
body
free
stuff
speech, speech!
child
boy/girl
dreams
deep trouble
death
what next?
the real You

“You: An Introduction” can be purchased from here. (The Good Book Company, UK)