Our Village Says ‘No’ to Extravagance, ‘Yes’ to Compromise (and New Neighbors!) Last night, our village assembly, the twice-yearly gathering where grassroots democracy truly shines, was anything but routine. While the autumn meeting typically focuses on budget approvals, this session brought pivotal decisions on both new citizenship and a hotly debated community building project. The…
The Last Voyage by Brian D. McLaren Were this merely a work of science fiction, it could be deemed a reasonably well-written, thrilling narrative about a small group of scientists on a highly improbable trip to another planet. But, if you know anything about Brian McLaren, it’s got to be much more than that. The…
I’ve recently read several books about the wives of Christian reformers. They led me to ponder on the way the Church’s emphasis and lifestyle have changed throughout history. Here is a very superficial summary of my analysis, concentrating on the European situation:
Katharina Luther series by Margaret Skea These books about Katharina von Bora, Martin Luther’s wife, show an incredibly vivid combination of informative history and living personalities.
Old Wives’ Tales by Clare Heath-Whyte Social values and norms change over the centuries. This also applies to the Christian Church. So, as we read about the lives of seven 18th century Christian leaders’ wives, we have some difficulty relating their experiences to ours of today.
The Wanderer’s Legacy by Natasha Woodcraft As the third book in the epic Wanderer series, The Wanderer’s Legacy is a captivating read. Woodcraft transports us to a largely unexplored period; life is basic, yet people live for hundreds of years. Following the sparse biblical text, she shows us the first few generations torn between allegiance…
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Boldly perceptive, eight-year-old Jean Louise Finch, aka Scout, reveals the shameful racism of a small town in Alabama in the early ’30s.
A Very Private Grave by Donna Fletcher Crow Why did Father Dominic give Felicity a wrapped-up journal just before he got himself murdered? And what was so significant about that cryptic notebook, which recorded his travels in the footsteps of the medieval Saint Cuthbert? Somebody – could it be a fellow member of the monastery,…
Just Benny by Alex Banwell Setting Benny’s dad, Ola Welander, rejects him. Janet, his mum, pampers him. His sister, Emma, loves her little ‘Pestie’ but finds him exasperating at times. Other kids mock ‘Weedy Welander’, all because he suffers from frequent epileptic seizures. As a result, Benny withdraws to the only place where he feels…
Two Old Fools – Olé by Victoria Twead This is the second of many in Victoria Twead’s Old Fools series. Having sold up everything in the UK, Vicky and Joe have relocated to a tiny village in the Spanish mountains. We hear of their adventures with colourful residents and furry friends.
The Victor by Patricia St John Philo, the son of a fisherman in first century Tyre, is traumatised by his sister’s sinister illness. When his father drowns, the family is thrown into poverty. Only little Ione provides a ray of sunshine.
Glastonbury: The Novel of Christian England by Donna Fletcher Crow Donna Fletcher Crow’s epic historical masterpiece brings to life the mystical Glass Isle of Glastonbury with its imposing Tor. In each era, the ruling monarch and a key spiritual leader are highlighted. As conflicts rage, we follow the wavering spark of faith in Jesus Christ…