Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller
Searching for God Knows What, by Donald Miller, is a collection of essays on searching for God. The title explains that often the search for God begins with a search for something else. Miller’s own searching for meaning led him away from a god of his own design to the gospel of the true and merciful God. The essays go in different directions but lead back to a theology based in the grace of God, with glimpses of rich theology in the midst of entertaining narrative.
Compared to Blue Like Jazz, I was impressed. This book was more theological while still maintaining his typical and expected humorous style. While it was entertaining, Miller has a way of getting under my skin. I have a number of friends that he annoys much more, but we have different reasons. In the middle of his essays, he makes statements that bother me. Most of these I find inappropriate, not theological statements, but details in the midst of the narrative. While the book reads at a fairly elementary level, he makes statements that are immature and inappropriate for any age (admittedly few and far between, but the problem is that they are there at all).
On another note, this edition includes puzzles and games, which to me are just worthless and add annoying inconsistencies to the typeface.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read that shows his cards when it comes to theology, and I appreciate it.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Final Tornado post
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Some friends
It doesn't hurt when they follow Mark 5.19:
And he did not permit him but said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."
It does hurt when they are far away.
Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend,
and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity.
Better is a neighbor who is near
than a brother who is far away. (Proverbs 27.10)
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Tornado, Pt. 4 of 5
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tornado, Pt. 3 of 5 (I think)
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Tornado Pt. 2
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Review: Bonhoeffer
Bonhoeffer: A Biography impressed me from the start. I was skeptical coming in because I had heard negative reviews of Metaxas’ Amazing Grace, mainly that it was overly academic sounding while attempting to be a popular level biography. I had not read Amazing Grace, and my only experience with Metaxas was when he came to Union University and spoke in chapel, which frankly, the only thing I remember is that he came. On of my professors at Union, Greg Thornbury, is a good friend of Metaxas and spoke highly of him, but more importantly, over the years I have greatly enjoyed history of World War II Europe and have come to appreciate Dietrich Bonhoeffer greatly.
Coming in with my skepticism, I was immediately impressed, not only with readability but the high amount of detail woven into a single narrative. Metaxas weaves together personal accounts to show the character of the family and of Dietrich himself from a young age, showing his vivaciousness and sensitivity to both God and to others. He was always a servant to others, putting everyone else before himself. While this was in many ways simply his moral compass, he knew from an early age that he would study theology, and persevered even through opposition from his overly rationalistic family. He maintained his character throughout his life, even through the hardest of ethical choices during Hitler’s rule over Germany. I'll let you read the rest yourself. This is a great book that paints a great picture of such a hero of the faith.