Saturday, February 28, 2009

Money and Faith

edited & compiled by Michael Schut

Like The Treasure Principal, I bought Money and Faith to help me prepare a Bible class on finances. Like The Treasure Principal, I found Money and Faith to be lacking. In a sense, it fell on the other side of the spectrum. Where TTP seemed stuck in a conservative, American Middle-class rut, M&F is all about liberal, global socialism. TTP, to its credit, had plenty of Bible verses; M&F relied far more on pundits and philosophers. Where the two books met is that each seemed to have their agenda first and a serious seeking of God's Word second. Both failed to really delve into the depth of Christian stewardship. In Money and Faith's case, the shortcoming was a lack of exploring our own sinfulness and greed.

All that said, I liked Money and Faith a little bit better. It was a thicker, meatier book that challenged the status quo on a deeper level. Mr. Schut has compiled a nice collection of essays to explore "the search for enough." I think a comfortable, suburban Protestant might do well to give this one a read, though I'll say again that it only looks at part of the equation. The essays are followed by study guide for asking questions and, for groups, to stimulate discussions. This, too I found lacking. Here the book adds the trappings of a self-righteous encounter group, looking within for guidance and self-improvement. I pulled some ideas from this book for my class (it, too, an admittedly mediocre effort) but left a lot behind.

Challenging waiting room material, it is.
LibraryThing link

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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Senior's Discount

by Lynn Johnston

The good things about this For Better or For Worse collection: April's band adjusts to their new line up, April spends a few weeks at her uncle's farm and the translation of "kaad-gnebig njnaamod". The bad things, well, pretty much everything else. The Patterson clan and friends have become pretty dull or depressing. sigh. The strip used to be so good.

It's waiting room material.
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Sunday, February 08, 2009

Teaching Is a Learning Experience!

by Lynn Johnston

This is another "post-jump"* For Better or For Worse collection. The kids in Liz's class offer the humor that the Patterson kids used to provide in years past, and Michael's feud with his downstairs neighbors has its moments. April and Anthony, on the other hand, are way too whiney in this volume. I suspect that I'll let this book gather dust while revisiting some of the better collections in the series.
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*You know, like "post-holocaust" refers to tales set after a nuclear war, these strips are set after the shark was jumped.

It's waiting room material, for when you don't need to wait long.
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Saturday, February 07, 2009

The Suggs Book of Family Tales

by Rob Suggs

This is a short, amusing, little book of bemoraled, family-themed anecdotes by the creator of Brother Biddle. I'd really like to rate it as better than waiting room material, but, by golly, that's just what it is. As enjoyable and readable as this book may be, there is no reason to recommend this as anything but a pleasant way to relax and pass some time.

LibraryThing link

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Sunday, February 01, 2009

The Starman Omnibus: Volume 1

by James Robinson, Tony Harris and Wade von Grawbadger

Wow. This is just... wow! Great! Wunderbar! Incredible!

Maybe I should elucidate. I've enjoyed comics practically all my literate life, really becoming a fan in the mid-seventies. By that era, the staples of the super-hero genre--the heroes from DC and Marvel--were pretty well established. I spent many an hour delving into the treasure trove of their history. The comic books and characters that had their start since that era, however, I've usually found lacking. I've bought many a premiere issue, wanting to get into the character, along with its setting, its supporting cast, its rogues gallery and ended up being disappointed. The magic just wasn't there. So anyway, back in 1994, the new Starman came out. I heard a lot of good things about it, but money was tight and comics weren't as appealing to me as they used to be. I didn't check it out. I mean, hey, Starman? I always considered him just a Green Lantern wannabe. If I had only known then what I know now, I might have been spending more money. Or maybe I would have been too young to appreciate it. Anyway, now it's 2009. I picked up this collection of Starman issues 0 through 16, read it and... wow. This is the series with that classic quality. Interesting characters, intriguing setting and a hero with an honest-to-Ghandi personality. I don't have the money for it now, but one day I'd like to get a copy of this sucker. Or maybe I should dare to haunt the comic shop back issue racks one again?

I want it on my shelf!
LibraryThing link

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All Quiet on the Western Front

by Erich Maria Remarque

What can I say to do justice to this book? The cover blurb calls this "The Greatest War Novel of All Time." It's certainly the best that I've ever read. In fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised if some of the other war stories I've read haven't used All Quiet as part of their research. It's an account of World War I, as seen through the experiences of Paul Bäumer, a young German man serving in France--the "Western front" to the German army. Through his eyes we see the brutality, absurdity, sorrow and community of war. At times Paul reflects on his experiences, noting how they have essentially shredded his former life as a student and may have killed his future. Other times he holds such reflections at bay and, for the sake of his sanity, focuses on the moment and the ongoing task of staying alive. It's a book full of despair and sorrow, yet it also contains moments of love and humor. It is very much a tale that's real, which, I suppose, also makes it more tragic. If only this was a dark fantasy that exists only in the writer's imagination.

Think I'll keep it on my shelf.
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