What can I say about the Duggars? Seeing their family on TV was a factor (one of many) that led my wife and I to the belief of allowing God to control...moreWhat can I say about the Duggars? Seeing their family on TV was a factor (one of many) that led my wife and I to the belief of allowing God to control how many children we had (seven so far, for the curious). For a long time that was how I thought of them: They trusted God with their fertility and it all seemed to work out well for them. We share many (though not all) conservative Christian beliefs with them, so they were a nice family on TV we could relate to.
Since reading their first book (review here: http://family.bob-space.com/2009/06/dugg...) my opinion of them has changed greatly. I've really developed a deep respect and admiration for this large family that strives to glorify God in everything they do and makes demonstrating God's love to others their priority. To the Duggars faith isn't about attending church religiously and putting a fish bumper-sticker on your car - it's lived out in every aspect of their lives. While their critics can bash them over "family planning" choices or conservative beliefs they can't (honestly anyway) accuse them of being stereotypical "right-wing christian hate-mongers" because they make their lives about showing respect and kindness to others - even their critics.
This second book is full of the details behind what makes their home happy and their lives joyful as seen on the TV show. Non-Christians may be turned off by the constant references to their faith, but that's really what it's all about. Their faith is what makes their family work, and it's what allows them to cheerfully live every day in a way that would make most people go insane within 15 minutes.
This book does get into some of the nitty-gritty behind how (and why) they make the decisions they make - and the results of those decisions. It also details the major events last few years of their life (a tumultuous time) and how they dealt with each situation that arose. Repeatedly they demonstrate that trusting God isn't just front to impress Christian friends, but a pattern of life (and I would suggest the only viable pattern of life that leads to true contentment).
This book is well worth the read (even if you don't subscribe to the Duggar's beliefs) simply as an example of how life can be lived to the fullest. I recommend it so highly I'm giving away copies of it on my blog - click through for a chance to get one: http://family.bob-space.com/2011/07/love...(less)
Many people had recommended this book to me. Over the course of the last eight months of so I read it aloud to my wife (eight months only because we h...moreMany people had recommended this book to me. Over the course of the last eight months of so I read it aloud to my wife (eight months only because we have little time for reading together - not because the content was disinteresting).
First, the content of this book is really about getting to know God on a personal level. The story - while interesting and funny at points - really revolves around God reaching out to the main character and the relationship that develops between them. It is easy and natural to place yourself in the shoes of Mack - which really turns this into a book of understanding God's attempt to reach out to you. That's not a bad thing - W.P. Young does a good job of making it feel like an entertaining and emotional novel even though it could have been packaged as a Christian "self-help" without drastically altering the content.
The Shack really shines as revealing the loving character of God. While it doesn't come right out and directly answer the question "Why do bad things happen to good people?" it does demonstrate how bad events can be shaped into good experiences by God's will - and how despite what occurs to us God loves us anyway.
There were a few spots that troubled me from a theological standpoint. In a fiction novel issues like this wouldn't normally bother me but since a large portion of this book is focused on describing God there were a few points where it seemed like the author's opinion of God preempted God's own description of himself (from the Bible). In a few cases God is depicted almost a bit "hokey" or magical - these bits just didn't sit quite right with me. To be fair - were I to write a book about God's nature I'm not sure I'd capture every detail correctly either.
Overall however I think this book is a success at revealing God's loving nature (though perhaps to the detriment of other aspects of His nature). I would recommend it to anyone who has ever asked the question "If God is good, why do bad things happen?" - though take it with a grain of salt - the big picture view this book paints is superb, but the "devil is in the details" so to speak :)(less)
I've never been a huge O'Reily fan. I don't watch TV, so I don't have much experience with his program. Back in the day when I listened to talk radio ...moreI've never been a huge O'Reily fan. I don't watch TV, so I don't have much experience with his program. Back in the day when I listened to talk radio I didn't find his political commentary as entertaining as that of Limbaugh or Hannity. However, after listening to this audio-book on a long drive to Wisconsin and back I was indeed entertained by the many stories Mr. O'Reily shared from his younger days. While I do have some disagreements with O'Reily, this book also convinced me of his desire to bring evildoers to justice regardless of where they fall on the political spectrum. Worth the listen/read.(less)
As a science fiction junkie I enjoyed this book. The premise was interesting: a modern-day American town is transported to seventeenth century Germany...moreAs a science fiction junkie I enjoyed this book. The premise was interesting: a modern-day American town is transported to seventeenth century Germany. Certainly the time-travel culture-clash wasn't an original theme, but the setting of choice (the thirty years war) was an interesting selection. I enjoyed this book as much for the history (and the subsequent research I did on the thirty years war) as I did for its sci-fi aspects.
One admirable quality I took away from 1632 was the more 'realistic' exploration of the culture-shock. While most books would emphasize either "kick-butt American manifest destiny shows old-school Germans how it's done" or "Stupid Americans learn how their way of life sucks and become something else" (ie Avatar), this book had a good mix of the two - demonstrating high and low points to each.
In the end I have to give this 3 stars. The writing was a bit choppy and hard to follow at times, and there was more language and explicit scenes than I would appreciate. This book is available free via dailylit.com, delivered in small installments to your e-mail inbox or RSS reader.(less)
Loading...
