Brief Book Review: Paul for Everyone: 2 Corinthians

Paul for Everyone: 2 Corinthians 

Author: Tom Wright

Publisher: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge and Westminster John Knox Press, paperback, 164 pages, including an Introduction, Map, and Glossary

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

The Author 

At the time of this publication, Tom (N.T. Wright) was the Bishop of Durham in the Church of England. A prolific author and noted New Testament scholar, Wright was named by Christianity Today as one of the top five theologians in the world. He has written over thirty books, both at the scholarly level (including Jesus and the Victory of God and The Resurrection of the Son of God) and for a popular audience (including The Meal Jesus Gave Us).

Brief Observations 

In his “For Everyone” New Testament series, Tom Wright states that he has deliberately written “for everyone,” and not for religious and intellectual elites. Therefore he does not include footnotes and Greek words. Rather, there is a Glossary of pertinent words and phrases, containing simple descriptions of them. However, words that Wright has omitted, which this reader believes are very significant are: sin, evil, hope, joy, and thanksgiving. One wonders why he failed to include them?

His own translation of 2 Corinthians, which seems somewhat folksy, reminds this reader a bit of Eugene Peterson’s The Message. Yet one may quibble about the occasional passage, even though Wright does try to remain faithful to the original text in his translation. 

All-in-all though, this wee volume is a worthwhile read. Wright’s prose is easy to read, inspiring and insightful—he reminds me here a lot of the William Barclay commentaries, which perhaps inspired him. I especially appreciated his opening each segment with a down-to-earth contemporary example, which preachers and laity will appreciate for sermons and Bible studies. 

Brief Review: Instrument of Thy Peace

Instrument of Thy Peace – Revised Edition

Author: Alan Paton

Publisher: The Seabury Press, paperback, 124 pages

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

The Author 

Alan Paton was a South African Anglican layperson, author, teacher, and anti-apartheid social justice advocate. 

Brief Observations 

In his Preface, Paton begins with the following sentence: “This book is written for sinners, and by one of them” (p. 7). In addition to sinners—that includes, of course, everyone—he states: “I wrote also for those who are inclined to melancholy, for those who are inclined to withdraw rather than to participate...[rather than] the building of a more just order of society” (p. 7). 

Paton wrote this volume, of his 21 meditations based on Francis of Assisi’s classic prayer, during the time when his wife of 39 years, Dorrie, was dying of emphysema. He believed: “I was given help to write it” (p. 8). 

Each of the 21 meditations begins with a quotation often from Francis’s prayer or one or more biblical passages. However meditation 17 begins with four quotations from newspapers focussing on the 1967 black riots in several USA cities. In most of the meditations there are other quotations from a wide variety of people and sources, including: excerpts from The Little Flowers Of St Francis Of Assisi, John Bunyan, William Temple, Alexander Paterson, Dag Hammarskjold, Paul Tillich, Ralph Hodgson, Lancelot Andrews, Julian of Norwich, the “Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann, The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky, Reinhold Niebuhr, and several others. The meditations often end with a prayer by Paton, wherein he concludes with these or similar words: “And help me this coming day to do some work of peace for Thee” (p. 53).

In meditation 3, based on Francis’s petition: “Where there is hatred, let me sow love,” Paton provides readers with his commitment to social justice: “To be the instrument of God’s peace is not to confine oneself to the field of personal relationships, but to concern oneself also with the problems of human society, hunger, poverty, injustice, cruelty, exploitation, war” (p. 20). At the end of this meditation Paton prays this prayer, which highlights his faith, and complements his commitment to social justice, and how he was inspired and motivated by Francis’s petition: “Take all hate from my heart, O God, and teach me how to take it from the hearts of others. Open my eyes and show me what things in our society make it easy for hatred to flourish and hard for us to conquer it. Then help me to try to change these things. And so open my eyes and my ears that I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for Thee” (p. 22). 

Some of the meditations also contain contemporary anecdotes and insights born out of Paton’s own life experiences. For example, a friend of his who was overanxious could have been thankful for the blessings in her life, rather than being preoccupied with what might happen to her. 

In a couple of meditations, Paton is very honest with his readers concerning the “sinner” part of himself. He admitted that he struggled with and fell short of Jesus’s teaching to love one’s enemies. When someone pointed out to him that as a Christian he could be more joyful, he admitted that there was more room in his life to grow more joyful. 

Although some of the illustrations and contexts may be dated, others, even if dated, are as relative and instructive today as they were in Alan Paton’s day. This is a devotional classic that readers may wish to read periodically to discover insights and inspiration. 

A Brief Book Review: Remembering: A Novel

A Brief Book Review: Remembering: A Novel

Author: Wendell Berry

Publisher: North Point Press, paperback, 124 pages

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

The Author 

Wendell Berry, lived and taught in New York and California before returning to Kentucky, where he has lived for decades, writing and farming on 75 acres in Henry County. He is a social activist, environmentalist, a supporter of sustainable agriculture, advocate of rural communities, and a Christian pacifist. 

Content

The novel begins with two quotes and a prayer. The two quotes are: “...to him that is joined to all the living there is hope...Ecclesiastes 9:4, and “Let the fragments of love be reassembled in you. Only then will you have true courage.” Hayden Carruth Following these quotes, there is a prayer which is reminiscent of at least two biblical texts from the creation narratives in Genesis, and Isaiah’s call in Isaiah 6. The prayer, in part, begins as follows: “Heavenly muse, Spirit who brooded on the world and raised it shapely out of nothing, touch my lips with fire and burn away all dross of speech, so that I keep in mind the truth and end to which my words now move....” This prayer is followed by 7 chapters: 1. Darkness Visible, 2. An Unknown Room, 3. Remembering, 4. A Long Choosing, 5. A Place Known and Dreamed, 6. Bridal, 7. The Hilltop.

Brief Observations

The novel begins with Andy Catlett—the main protagonist—a small farmer near Port William, Kentucky, who is angry and grieving about the loss of his hand in a farming accident, and whose relationships with his wife Flora and their children are strained. Andy leaves the farm for an agricultural conference. At the conference, he is upset with industrialized-large agribusiness farming which, he believes only exploits both the land and human beings. It is too focussed on analysis rather than the importance of relationships with humans and the land, and caring stewardship of the earth. 

The novel mentions several people—past and present, whom Andy knew of, remembered, cared about, and mentored him. One significant encounter he had was with an Amish farmer, who, Andy thought, lived more in harmony with God’s creation than the large industrialized farmers. 

The novel’s final chapter is a kind of vision for all of creation being restored and renewed, perhaps modelled after Isaiah’s vision of shalom. There is beauty and wonder in the natural world, and forgiveness and reconciliation for human beings. 

One critique of the novel for this reader is that there was too much description—albeit sometimes very poetic—and inadequate dialogue and engagement between human beings. 

In light of Berry’s own life, the novel seems somewhat autobiographical. 

Funeral Sermon for Delores Bruce

Sermon for (Ardith) Delores Bruce by Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson, based on Ps 121 and Jn 14:1-6, December 18, 2023, Messiah Lutheran Church, Camrose, eleven o’clock.

Your loving Delores Bruce, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, family member, friend, neighbour and child of God, and so much more, has departed from this life; for her eternal home in heaven. All of you who knew and loved Delores shall certainly miss her. She meant so much to you, she inspired and influenced your lives in many ways. Her life made a difference in your lives. 

Delores loved and valued her family relationships. At least one of her children, if not all of them would phone Delores pretty much every day. That speaks volumes about her love for you and your love for her, the high quality relationship you were blessed to have with her. 

Speaking of love, Delores was also a person of faith, she knew, experienced and was most grateful for God’s love, that is why she could be a loving person, and remind others that God loves you. 

Whenever I visited her in the hospital; she always appreciated having a devotion time together where we would read from Scripture, share a brief meditation, thoughts, or reflections, and pray, and she also deeply appreciated receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion. Prior to going into the hospital, Delores was faithful in her church attendance at Skudesness Lutheran Church. So we give thanks to the LORD for Delores’s strong faith in God and God’s Word, and reliance on Christ for forgiveness of sins by participating in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. 

A favourite Bible passage of Delores’s was Psalm 121. It is a beautiful psalm of trust in God’s protection. It also has the superscription “A Song of Ascents.” So it is a pilgrim psalm, a travellers’ song that the ancient Israelites sang as they travelled to and from Jerusalem for the Jewish festivals. In biblical times, travelling could be dangerous, there were bandits who could beat and rob you, and there were wild animals that might attack you. So the psalmist confidently placed their trust in the LORD for a safe journey. So too Delores placed her trust in the LORD as she journeyed through life. Life has its ups and downs, its twists and turns, I’m sure, Delores had her share of ups and downs, her twists and turns, however as the psalmist assures us, and assured Delores: “My help comes from the LORD,” and, “The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time and forevermore.” 

Few psalms are so well-known as Psalm 121, mostly because it has been sung as a hymn for many generations. John Campbell, the Governor General of Canada from 1878-83, wrote the Canadian favourite, “Unto the hills around do I lift up my longing eyes.” (Lutheran Book of Worship #445) The hymn was popular among Canadian soldiers during World War II. 

The message of Psalm 121 is simple and powerful: God watches over us as permanently as the mountains or hills mark the horizon. Verses 3-4 reflect the terror of a sleepless guard or soldier lest they doze while on watch at night. Unlike human guards and soldiers, who can and sometimes do get tired and fall asleep, God does not fall asleep. No, God always watches over us. As the psalmist affirms, “the LORD is your keeper.” I’m sure that Delores found comfort and peace in those words of promise that the LORD was her keeper in all of her ups and downs, twists and turns throughout her life. I hope and pray that all of you will too. 

That’s why in John 14:1-6, Jesus also gives us a wonderful promise. The promise is that those who believe in Jesus and in God the Father have a dwelling place waiting and prepared for them in the Father’s heavenly house. Why? because Jesus is the way, the truth and the life that leads us into our Father’s heavenly house. When Delores was in hospital, she was between homes. She realized that she required more care and could not return to her Hillside condo, she was approved for placement, however she was not able to move into a new home. Now she no longer needs a temporary, earthly home—she is in her eternal home. As we journey through this life and are away from our home for some time, such as when we go on a long holiday—when we arrive back home again, we often say: “There’s no place like home.” For Delores now her journey in this life is over. How much more, thanks to Jesus, she can say: “There’s no place like home,” since now she is in her perfect, eternal home with Jesus, her Lord and Saviour. 

There are many people who journey through life as lost souls because they do not believe in or know Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. If we believe in him like Delores did; then we can live with confidence that we know where we’re going and how to get there. We too shall eventually be able to say: “There’s no place like our eternal home with Jesus.” 

What a wonderful message of hope these words of Jesus are for us today! Hope for a better future for Delores—since now her suffering is over, and she is at peace. Hope for you and I—as we continue on in our Advent season’s journey of waiting and watching for, and being prepared for the coming of Jesus. Hope for us as we journey ahead and celebrate our Saviour’s birth. For he is our Immanuel—God with us now and always, just as he has promised us through his Word. 

So we give thanks to the LORD for Delores’s life; for all the good she was able to do; all the hope she gave you and others; all the love she shared with you thanks to the saving love and grace of Jesus Christ for her. For that, thanks be to God. Amen. 

Brief Book Review: The Heart of Christmas

The Heart of Christmas 

Author: Compiled by Sarah Bubbers, 

Publisher: Collins Fount Paperbacks, 143 pages, including Foreword, In Case You Didn’t Know, Acknowledgements, Crisis at Christmas

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

Author

At the time of this publication, Sarah Bubbers had studied English at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, then was an editorial staff person of a London publisher—working on children’s books, religious books, and fiction. Then she became a freelance editor. Her twin baby sons were born during work on this volume.

Contents

The volume consists of four chapters: 1 Away in a Manger A Child’s Christmas; 2 Love Came Down at Christmas God’s Wonderful Gift; 3 O Come, All Ye Faithful Christmas Remembered; 4 See Amid the Winter’s Snow The Challenge of Christmas. 

Each of the chapters begin with citations from Luke’s and Matthew’s accounts of Jesus’s birth. The chapters then include several stories, poems, reflections, hymns, and “Kid’s Quotes” of seven year olds, such as: “Christmas comes so that we can have peace, love and hope all year round” (p. 43). And: “At Christmas I think about poor Santa who gets soot on him” (p. 43). 

Some of the “classic” Christmas stories appear in the volume—for example: “Carol Singing” from A Child’s Christmas in Wales, by Dylan Thomas; “Christmas in Prison,” by Richard Wurmbrand; and “Christmas at Mole End,” from The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame. 

There are other inspiring, humorous, and insightful stories by contributors from a variety of backgrounds, including: clergy, politicians, writers, broadcasters, actors, and so on. One of my favourite reflections is “Christmas in Israel,” by Walter Barker, who also provides a brief description of the Jewish Hanukkah festival. 

Under the title “In Case You Didn’t Know...” Bubbers provides biographical sketches of this volume’s contributors. 

What I appreciated most, however, is that the book’s royalties went to help a London charitable organisation called Crisis at Christmas, which began working in the field of homelessness in 1967. Moreover, the authors and publishers shared their works free of charge. 

This wee volume is ideal for families celebrating the true spirit of Christmas. 

Brief Book Review: The Forgotten Touch

The Forgotten Touch: More Stories of Healing

Author: Nigel W.D. Mumford

Publisher: Seabury Books, paperback, 135 pages, including Acknowledgments, Forward by Russ Parker, Prologue and Epilogue

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

Author

At the time this volume was published, the Rev. Nigel Mumford was born and educated in England, a former marine and now an Episcopal priest, and Director of the Healing Ministries of Christ the King Spiritual Life Centre in Albany, New York. He is also the author of Hand to Hand: From Combat to Healing. On his website, he is described as: an international speaker, author and founder of By His Wounds, Inc. a 501c3 non-profit, organization, focusing on Christian Healing. Nigel is also Priest Associate for Healing, at Galilee Church in Virginia Beach, VA.

Contents

The main body of this volume is divided up into Part One God’s Healing Grace and Part Two Sharing In The Ministry Of Healing. Part One contains eight chapters. Part Two contains four chapters. Each chapter begins with a biblical text. 

Brief Observations

Mumford himself shares autobiographical stories, including how God called him into ordained ministry after having served as a soldier in the British military. He began to focus on praying for healing and healing ministry when his sister, a ballet dancer, was healed of Dystonia. Mumford also tells several stories in the book of others being healed. 

He points out, among other things, that: there are different kinds of healing, it is not always what people expect, it may not be instantaneous, in addition to prayer and faith in God, it also may involve medical personnel, science and technology.

Mumford admits that there are cases where healing doesn’t happen. He addresses five blocks that prevent healing: unforgiveness, inner vows, unworthiness, occult involvement, and negative attitude. 

He goes on to identify ten major ingredients for healing, which are connected with listening, loving, and praying. He also discusses twelve ways to prepare for and introduce a healing ministry in a parish, as well as seven pitfalls to watch out for in a healing, prayer team ministry, and a checklist for a healing service. 

Aside from the sexist language, and a wee bit of questionable biblical, theological and practical presuppositions, some clergy and laity with an interest in healing ministry might find this volume helpful. 

Brief film review: The Holly and the Ivy

Brief film review: The Holly and the Ivy

Over the years, the Reverend Julianna, my wife, and yours truly, have enjoyed watching a host of classic films on the Turner Classic Movies channel. We appreciate being able to watch movies without far too many commercial breaks on other channels. 

Recently we watched “The Holly and the Ivy,” a 1952 black & white British film, 80 minutes long. It was  directed by George More O'Ferrall, produced by Anatole de Gunwald, and is based on the 1950 play of the same name by Wynyard Browne. 

The story mainly takes place on Christmas Eve, and Gregory family members are arriving at the parsonage in the remote village of Wyndenham in rural Norfolk. Ralph Richardson is the parson, the Reverend Martin Gregory, who is a widower. Celia Johnson is Jenny Gregory, the parson’s daughter who is in love with a Scottish engineer, David Paterson, and wants to marry him, but believes she cannot because she feels duty-bound to look after her dad. David feels a great deal of urgency to marry Jenny, and take her with him, as he is about to leave for a five year job in South America.

The Reverend Gregory’s two other children also arrived home for Christmas—daughter Margaret, and son Michael. Both of them are in a rather strained relationship with their dad. They feel that because their dad is a parson, they could not share certain details of their lives with him, for fear that he would judge and reject them. 

Eventually there is a confrontation between the Reverend Gregory and son Michael, in which the latter is honest with his dad. A heart-to-heart conversation between daughter Margaret and her dad reveals how much she has suffered because of the death of the man she loved, and the death of her four-year-old son, who died of meningitis. 

The Reverend Gregory, instead of rejecting and judging his children, surprises them by showing them empathy, and sharing his own regrets about the past, as well as his struggles as a parson. 

It is a heart-warming story, and underscores the importance of reconciliation, communication, and compassionate family relationships. I also appreciated how the film addresses the continuing stereotypical, prejudicial, and false view (even today) of many towards clergypersons—that they are too ‘holy,’ self-righteous and judgemental of others, living sheltered lives, and therefore to be avoided because they lack empathy towards, and understanding of people living in “the real world.” 

Book Review: Stories by Willimon

Stories by Willimon

Author: William H. Willimon

Publisher: Abingdon Press, paperback, 251 pages

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

Will Willimon needs no introduction to many preachers and professors of homiletics—especially here in North America. In addition to his life as a preacher and professor, Willimon is also a prolific writer, having published over 65 books, and thousands of periodical essays, and blog posts. He has also served as a popular keynote speaker at numerous clergy study conferences. 

Contents

This volume consists of a Forward; Part One: Sowers; Part Two: Seeds; Part Three: Senses; Part Four: Secrets; Story Title Index; Scripture Index, Theme Index; and Credits. The volume is a collection from a variety of Willimon’s writings from various sources over the years.

Willimon’s writings include—among other genres: sermons, theology, humour, prophetic exhortations, satire, fiction, personal reflections/autobiography, lament, and more. 

The following examples, one from each part, hopefully inspire readers of this brief review to purchase or borrow this volume from the library.

In Part One: Sowers, here is a brief citation from Willimon’s advice to someone who, in a letter, asked him how to preach like him. The piece is titled “So, You Want to Preach?” Willimon advises: “So, you want to preach? Fall in love with words. Collect clichés and burn them. Read all the plays (sonnets too) of Shakespeare. Poach from the poems of Yeats, consume the short stories of O’Connor. Fall in love, and out again. Be in pain. Get lost. Roam. Come back home. Get saved. In sin, be bold. Gape at your people when doing visitation. Listen to their lives, their lies, their dreams, their hopes. Keep notes. Listen. Attend one of our first-rate theology schools (pp. 20-21).” 

In Part Two: Seeds, Willimon tells a brilliant parable titled, “Teach ‘em a Lesson.” The parable’s main character is a successful, yet merciless business leader, chair of his church’s board, Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary. After he dies, God the Judge commands: “Forgive him! It’ll teach him a lesson (p. 50).”

In Part Three: Senses, Willimon, in a sermon he preached at Duke University Chapel on December 7, 1986, titled “Jews and Christians, All in the Family,” re-tells Luke 15:1-32. He concludes: “The younger brother had succeeded in locking out his brother, he had the whole house to himself, but alas, he had locked out his loving father as well (p. 122).”

In Part Four: Secrets, Willimon humours readers in his piece titled “Feedback,” in which he shares from his collection of responses to his writing. “Criticism of liberal theology won me this fusillade: No Dr. Willimon, we will not march back into the dark ages of narrow-mindedness, bigotry, and closed thinking. If I had my ways, you would be banished from the pages of every church magazine, defrocked and silenced. Just imagine what he would do to me if he weren’t open-minded” (p. 208). 

For preachers—and others—who love stories, this volume will humour, inspire, offend, encourage, critique, challenge, instruct, affirm and more. 

Wordless Wednesday: September 14, 2022

 

                                                  Underpass mural

                                       For Wordless Wednesday

Book Review: Nine Essential Things I’ve Learned About Life

Nine Essential Things I’ve Learned About Life

Author: Harold S. Kushner

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, hardcover, 171 pages

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

The Author 

At the time this volume was published, Harold S. Kushner was rabbi laureate of Temple Israel in Natick, Massachusetts, having long served that congregation. He is best known as the author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People. In 1995, he was honoured by the Christophers, a Roman Catholic organization, as one of the fifty people who have made the world a better place in the past half century, and in 1999, the national organization Religion in American Life honoured him as their clergyman of the year. Rabbi Kushner is the author of a number of other popular books. 

Contents

This volume consists of a Preface, nine chapters—the titles of which reveal the themes addressed—and “A Love Letter to a World That May or May Not Deserve It.”

In his first chapter, Lessons Learned Along the Way, Rabbi Kushner states that even though he enjoyed studying and learning the centuries-old Jewish traditions at Jewish Theological Seminary; he realized that his congregants’ questions could not be answered by what he learned in seminary. He learned that traditional Jewish theology needed to be reformulated to address questions about God, suffering and the meaning of life and forgiveness. “When I was ordained a rabbi at age twenty-five, they told me I was ready to go forth and teach. The truth was, I was at best ready to go forth and learn” (p. 16). 

In God Is Not a Man Who Lives in the Sky, Rabbi Kushner goes into some detail about the God he does and does not believe in. When he prays the traditional prayer that God is one, he believes that “God embraces all polarities, male and female, young and old, scolding and forgiving. Everything—all polarities—finds its place in God. “God is one” means something like “God is all” (p. 24). He does not believe that one has to beg or bargain with God. Rather, God is with us to help us do what we need to do as we journey through life. 

According to Kushner, God Does Not Send the Problem; God Sends Us the Strength to Deal with the Problem, genetics, chance, and bad luck are the cause of problems. “And God cannot make the problem go away, no matter how many prayers and good deeds we offer. What God does is promise us, I will be with you; you will feel burdened but you will never feel abandoned” (pp. 48-49). I do not completely agree with the rabbi on this. Sometimes God answers prayer, and works miracles. Sometimes our problems are due to/caused by our or others’ sins and evil in the world. Sometimes we do feel abandoned. 

Rabbi Kushner, in his chapter titled, Forgiveness Is a Favor You Do Yourself, cites examples of the necessity of forgiving in order to prevent the offending party from continuing to victimize and having power over the one who is offended. He cites the story of Joseph as an example. Forgiving someone does not mean you are excusing the offending party for what they have done. Rather, the person who forgives does not have to live as an angry victim for the rest of their life. 

In his chapter, Some Things Are Just Wrong; Knowing That Makes Us Human, the author makes the case against Original Sin, and for Original Virtue: “...the uniquely human gift and burden of being able to know right from wrong, good from bad” (p. 94). He is sceptical of the Christian view of inherited guilt and shame from Adam and Eve. Rather, he claims that human babies are born with a sense of good and bad, fairness and empathy. 

According to Kushner’s chapter Religion Is What You Do, Not What You Believe, unlike Jesus who taught that sin comes from the heart, the rabbi states that lustful thoughts and feelings are not sinful until they are carried out in deeds. 

In his chapter, Leave Room for Doubt and Anger in Your Religious Outlook, Rabbi Kushner emphasizes that doubt and anger are not expressions of the lack of faith. Rather, they are expressions of faith, citing Jeremiah and Moses as examples.

In his chapter, To Feel Better About Yourself, Find Someone to Help, Kushner, commenting on Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness, renders Genesis 21:18 as follows: “make your hand strong in his.” He adds, “You will make yourself feel stronger by reaching out to someone else” (p. 137). 

In this chapter, Kushner cites Dr. Sherwin Nuland’s insight that he learned from his grandmother: “Knowledge refers to know how to do something; wisdom means knowing when and whether to do it” (p. 139). 

In his chapter, Give God the Benefit of the Doubt, the author provides a comparison of several translations of Genesis 15:6, and then offers his interpretation of it. He favours the rendering Abraham trusted or believed God rather than trusted in or believed in God. Abraham trusted God’s promise that God would fulfil it in the future. According to Kushner, because Abraham trusted that God would keep his promise, Abraham was able to offer Isaac as a sacrifice in Genesis 22. 

Out of Abraham’s trust of giving God the benefit of the doubt, Kushner suggests there is a “theology of not-yet” (p. 162). For Kushner, this not-yet theology is one where the world is not as God intended it to be. However, when people of faith work together: “...to bring about the day when what should be, will be” (p. 169). 

I leave it up to readers of this review to read this volume, if they wish to discover the contents of Rabbi Kushner’s love letter. 

Although I differ from Rabbi Kushner on a few subjects, I do appreciate his many insights, wisdom, knowledge and compassion, which have grown out of five decades of faithful ministry. 

Book Review: 100 Views from This Seat

Author: Leroy Seat

Publisher: 4-L Publications, paperback, x, + 200 pages

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

The Author 

The Rev. Dr. Leroy Seat served as a Baptist pastor, he earned his PhD in theology from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and was a Baptist missionary in Japan from 1966 to 2004. His doctoral dissertation was titled “The Meaning of ‘Paradox’: A Study of the Use of the Word ‘Paradox’ in Contemporary Theological and Philosophical Writings with Special Reference to Søren Kierkegaard.” He was full-time professor at Seinan Gakuin University in Fukuoka, Japan from 1968 until his retirement in 2004. Professor Seat served as Chancellor of Seinan Gakuin from 1996 to 2004. He also taught as an adjunct professor at Rockhurst University from 2006 to 2014. In his retirement years, since 2009, Dr. Seat has been a blogger at: The View from This Seat: Reflections about Life, Love, Light, and Liberty (the 4-Ls).

Contents

100 Views from This Seat contains a selection of 100 out of his 800 blog posts, with a wide variety of topics, dating from 2010 to 2020. Indeed, as a blogger myself, that is how I came upon Professor Seat’s blog, occasionally leaving comments on his blog posts. The book is divided into the twelve months of the year, each month includes eight or nine blog posts that were not chosen in any particular order. The blog posts address serious religious, ethical and political subjects. 

In Appreciation

One of the factors that has always annoyed me about the academic world is, among some academics—certainly not all of them!--a sense of superiority and snobbery. In reading Professor Seat’s blog posts, I have been delighted to learn that that is not the case! I truly appreciate his clear, concise and hospitable prose, which reflect his academic learning as well as his faith. Even though he, at times, addresses controversial issues, he avoids engagement in character assassination and other disrespectful commentary. 

In this review, I have chosen to focus on three blog posts, which hopefully stimulate readers to purchase this volume, and/or visit Professor Seat’s blog. 

One of his blog posts is titled Baptist with a Small “b,” (pp. 29-30). He cites the Schleitheim Confession, which, among other things, referred to a rejection of violence and capital punishment. Over the years, Dr. Seat grew increasingly uncomfortable within the Baptist denomination because of their movement further to the right politically. In July 2012 he and his wife became Mennonites. 

A second, informative blog post, titled In Praise of Toyohiko Kagawa (pp. 101-102), is one of my favourites. Even though I have previously read about Kagawa several years ago, I found it interesting that he, among other things, developed trachoma while living among the poor, was involved in founding the first Japanese labour unions, and visited the U.S. in 1941 as a peace activist, attempting to avert war in the Pacific. 

The third blog post I appreciated was titled, Remembering Søren Kierkegaard, who influenced Professor Seat. He mentions Vernard Eller’s book, who “emphasized that real Christianity must include “radical discipleship,” to use Eller’s words.” (p. 170) Professor Seat highly recommends Charles E. Moore’s book, Provocations: Spiritual Writings of Søren Kierkegaard, which highlights Kierkegaard’s thought, is a compilation of certain exerpts and aphorisms, and enlightens readers on the practical living out of the Christian faith. 

Conclusion

As a “retired” pastor and professor, Leroy Seat continues to be an active blogger, writing about a variety of contemporary issues. I encourage readers of this review to purchase this volume at Amazon for the reasonable price of $5.95, and to visit his blogsite here.

Memorial Sermon for Daniel Reid

Memorial Sermon for Daniel James Reid, based on Psalm 103:13-17 & Romans 8:31-39, by Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson, at Skudesness Lutheran Church, two o’clock, August 4, 2021. 

Death comes to us all. As many of you know, there are different kinds of death. Some deaths are expected after a long life, or a long period of suffering caused by chronic illness. Such deaths are regarded by many people as a blessing. Other deaths are not expected and unpredictable, as well as unwanted. Daniel James Reid’s death was an accident; it was not expected or predicted; nor was it wanted. One day Daniel was very much alive. The next day he was no longer with you.

At first you may have been stunned; shock deadens the blow. Then the anesthesia of shock wears off and we begin to feel the awful hurt and heartache of bereavement. We would fall apart if it were not for the presence of those who care: mom, dad, children, sisters, brothers, other relatives, friends, neighbours and God. They come quickly to take us in their arms and breathe comfort in our ears. Remember too, that there are many people whom we do not even know—strangers--who read or hear of our bereavement and lift prayers to God in our behalf. 

The Bible, in Psalm 103, speaks about the shortness of human life. The psalmist compares our human life with grass or wild flowers that quickly bloom, then a strong scorching wind makes them wither and die. Most, if not all of you, I expect would say that Daniel’s life was way too short. Why did he have to fall off that roof? He was only in his 30s, too young to die. I cannot answer your question why. However, I can point you to our Bible passages that speak of a God who loves us all and is with us, even in death. 

As the psalmist assures us: Just as parents have compassion for their children, the LORD has compassion for all who worship him. The English word compassion is from the Latin words “com” meaning “with” or “together,” and “passio” or “pati” meaning “to suffer.” We are always within the reach and sight of God’s compassion. Even though we do wrong, mess up, make terrible mistakes, God our Parent still has compassion for us. Daniel’s parents had compassion for him, even when he did wrong and made mistakes; and Daniel had compassion for you Taylor, Jordyn and Jack. That compassion is a gift that God gives us. Because of that compassion, the sadness and suffering seem at times so great.

After the loss of Daniel perhaps you felt that everyone and everything was against you. Such feelings do come to us, since just as there are life-forces there are also anti-life forces at work in the world. However, listen again to these words of promise from the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, he writes: “What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? The One who died for us, Jesus—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.”(The Message)

In other words, the answer to whoever or whatever is against you is that they shall not have the last word; they shall not win because God is on your side. God has the last word, and God will win in the end. Why? Because it is kind of like playing a game of ball or hockey. The team with the best players will win the game. You and I are on the winning team, since we have the very best player who ever lived, namely, Jesus. He has already won the game for each and every one of us by the life he lived; by his suffering, atoning death on the cross; and by his victory over death through his resurrection-life three days after he died. 

Paul goes on to say with great confidence: “Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us (or condemn us)? (Do you think anyone has the power to separate us/divorce us from Christ’s love?) There is no way!”(The Message) Just as your love for Daniel went with him when he travelled so far away from you; and just as Daniel’s love for you remained with you even though he was working on the other side of the world in Saudi Arabia; so Jesus’ love is always going to be in us, with us, and for us.

Paul is even more confident when he answers his questions about Jesus’ love, he tells us this: “Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.

We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.”(The Message) His loving embrace by suffering and dying on the cross and his victory over death by his resurrection from death is his unconditional gift to each one of us; that after we die, we too may share in a resurrection like his.

What wonderful GOOD NEWS this is for you and I! The BEST NEWS EVER! I happen to believe it. I hope and pray that you do too. It makes all the difference in the world to live and die trusting in and knowing that God’s steadfast love (God’s constant love, God’s reliable love) is from everlasting to everlasting. To be loved by our LORD and, in response, to love others, that is the ultimate meaning of life. May it be so for all of you! Amen! 

Book Review: Albert Schweitzer's Mission Healing and Peace

 

Albert Schweitzer's Mission Healing and Peace: With Hitherto Unpublished Letters from Schweitzer, Nehru, Eisenhower, Khrushchev, and Kennedy

Author: Norman Cousins

Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company, hardcover, 319 pages, including Acknowledgments, Editor's Note, and Index

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

The Author

Norman Cousins wrote for Saturday Review, and later became professor of humanities in the medical faculty of the University of California, Los Angeles. He also authored Anatomy of an Illness, Human Options, The Human Heart, and The Words of Albert Schweitzer. He was the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Medicine degree at Yale University by the Connecticut Medical Association and the New Haven Medical Society. 

Contents

In addition to Acknowledgments, Editor's Note and Index, the main body of this volume is divided into "Part I. A Visit to Lambaréné" and "Part II. The Correspondence, Introduction, Letters: 1957-1963," and a concluding "Epilogue."

Observations

In "A Visit to Lambaréné," Norman Cousins noted how Dr. Schweitzer left book manuscripts he was working on laying around, so that some were easily scattered and even stepped on by animals. 

He also pointed out the irony of Dr. Schweitzer who could have enjoyed a career as a professional concert organist and pianist playing without complaint an out-of-tune, dilapidated, old upright piano in Lambaréné. 

Cousins observed how witch doctors had power over people by threatening them with evil spells if they went to the Schweitzer Hospital. 

"Dr. Schweitzer did not come to Africa for the purpose of building a towering medical centre. He came in order to meet the Africans on their own terms. What he built was an African village attached to a functional medical and surgical clinic." (p. 53)

Dr. Schweitzer could be gruff with the Africans--he could be patronizing, treating them like children. However, Dr. Schweitzer regarded his role at the hospital as father not only to the Africans, but to everyone. "He had a sense of total personal responsibility for everyone and everything at Lambaréné." (p. 55)

Dr. Schweitzer told Cousins that his correspondence (including to  the leaders of nations, among others) was increasing and getting further behind and was time-consuming. 

Cousins observed how energetic Dr. Schweitzer was--he could still vigorously work at nearly 83 years of age. He also noted the Doctor's sense of humour during mealtime.

Helena, Dr. Schweitzer's wife, told Cousins about her tuberculosis when she was young; her skiing accident that broke her spine; her daughter Rhene, who married Jean Eckert of Zurich, an organ builder; and how she had helped Dr. Schweitzer for many of the over 40 years in Lambaréné, prior to her becoming ill and walking with a cane. Cousins also states that he enjoyed other cordial visits with Mrs. Schweitzer, who had an interest in world events as well as his family. She died 2 months after his Lambaréné visit. 

On one occasion, Dr. Schweitzer spoke with Cousins for 2 hours about philosophy and philosophers. He was influenced by Hegel and the Stoic school. He also spoke about his own philosophy and his published and unpublished works. 

Cousins describes, in some detail, staff members who came from various countries and their duties in the hospital and lepers' village. Several of them had served in Lambaréné for many years. This was the case in spite of the fact that, according to Cousins, both the Schweitzer Hospital and leper village were under-staffed.

Cousins describes another conversation with Dr. Schweitzer about ethical, political and health issues in relation to nuclear energy and nuclear fallout from testing. 

The Doctor surprised Cousins when he gave him his unpublished manuscript of The Kingdom of God--which he had hand-written on the back of all kinds of forms and old letters. This epitomized Dr. Schweitzer's stewardship and commitment not to live in luxury.

In another conversation, the Doctor told Cousins the more he studied Christian theology, the more he thought that over the centuries it had become too complicated and obscure. As principal of a seminary Dr. Schweitzer realized that he could no longer believe or teach what he was taught; and could not teach what he believed. Therefore he painfully gave up his position as principal at the seminary. He confessed: "I decided I would make my life my argument. I would attempt to have my life and work say what I believed." (p. 125) 

Cousins left Lambaréné having accomplished the purpose of his visit: he had Dr. Schweitzer's unpublished manuscript of The Kingdom of God, and his promise of a future statement on world peace and the problem of nuclear testing. 

Part II "The Correspondence," contains letters of Cousins and Dr. Schweitzer up to the year the latter died in 1965, as well as letters to others. "Most of the correspondence was on the key issues of the times--the deterioration of international relations, the hazards of the nuclear arms race (including dangers to the environment caused by testing), and the pervasive sense of uncontrolled drift toward a nuclear holocaust." (p. 143)

Cousins also includes Dr. Schweitzer's "A Declaration of Conscience" statement, which was broadcasted on radio from Oslo, and was deliberately chosen by Schweitzer because the Nobel Committee resided there. In it, he described the dangers of testing uranium, hydrogen and cobalt bombs and their radioactive fallout. He also appealed to citizens of the world to press their governments to end the testing of atomic weapons. Dr. Schweitzer's statement was also broadcasted on many transmitters throughout the world.

Many of the letters focus on the banning of nuclear weapons testing; the question of Berlin; and the Cuban missile crisis.

Dr. Schweitzer was grateful to have served in the medical profession into his nineties. 

According to Cousins, in his "Epilogue," Schweitzer's greatest achievement was spreading his moral vision internationally. "The greatness of Schweitzer--indeed, the essence of Schweitzer--was the man as symbol." (p. 303) 

Cousins goes on to cite how Schweitzer inspired people around the globe to found hospitals in impoverished places; medical clinics; and an orphanage. "Schweitzer demonstrated that one man (or woman) can make a difference." (p. 306)

Dr. Albert Schweitzer's freedom to sacrificially serve others mirrors the spirit of Jesus, and undoubtedly continues to inspire hundreds, thousands, and perhaps even millions today. Thank God for the Albert Schweitzers of this world! 

Read the Bible in a Year continued: The Torah

As I shared in my January 18, 2021 bog post, which you can read here, I have made the commitment to read the whole Bible this year. I recently completed reading the Torah, and am now well into the Book of Joshua. I'm following the Good News Translation Bible's plan, titled: "Read the Bible in a Year." However, each day I read a different translation, I'm blessed to have eight English translations of the Bible. For those readers who may have only one or two translations, I recommend the Bible Gateway website, where you can select several translations.

I confess, there are some days I find it quite challenging to read the assigned chapters. For example, when I began the Book of Joshua, chapters 1 to 7 were assigned on that day. This takes time, as I like to write brief notes on each daily reading. It is rather challenging some days to devote the necessary time required--especially when one has a busy day with other commitments. Being retired makes one grateful to be able to choose these kind of commitments. 

With regards to now having read the Torah, which literally means "teaching" or "instruction," here are a few notes. 

Two of the most significant defining moments in the history of Israel are, of course, God giving Moses the decalogue (Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:1-21) on Mount Sinai; and the exodus combined with the institution of the Passover (Exodus 12-14) as a festival to be celebrated in perpetuity to remember the exodus out of Egyptian slavery. Both of these defining moments are acts of God's grace toward Israel, and lay the foundation for their nation. The other religious celebrations, including the Sabbath, and such festivals as Sukkot/Tabernacles, and Weeks are also rooted in God's grace.

However, after reading about the origins of the tabernacle and the sacrificial system associated with it, one does wonder about God's requirements. This time round, after reading about all of the minute details of the offerings and sacrifices; their contents and quantities, and the rituals connected with them; I have more empathy towards the levitical priests. They were given huge responsibilities, and I think their work would have been endless. It would have required a lot of time to prepare many of the offerings and sacrifices prior to officiating in their rituals. Moreover, one wonders where and how the levitical priests were able to find all of the animals required for the offerings and sacrifices. It would have helped them a great deal if they were people who had the gift to remember details. 

We like to view God as "gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." However, with regards to the sacrificial system, one wonders--sometimes God seems overly legalistic and unmerciful, quick to anger and punish those who even make a minor mistake regarding the content and/or quantity of a particular offering or sacrifice. The punishment seems, at times, extreme. For example, in Numbers 15:32-36, a man who gathered sticks on the sabbath was commanded by the LORD to be stoned to death. 

On the other hand, there are occasions when God is gracious and merciful. For example, he does listen to both Abraham and Moses when they intercede for their people; that God not destroy them in his wrath. God heard their pleading and had mercy on his people. 

God's grace also blessed Abraham and Sarah with their son Isaac in their old age.

God's grace endowed Moses with the energy, wisdom and leadership skills and gifts to lead the Israelites through the sea, the wilderness, and up to the promised land. God's grace provided for the Israelites throughout their wilderness wanderings. God's grace provided for the needs and status of resident aliens, orphans and widows. 

After reading the Torah, I am grateful however that I'm not required to remember, let alone keep, all of the 613 laws therein--even though a number of those laws do make sense in their context and even today (for example the dietary laws), and promote the health and well-being of society as a whole. 

There but by the grace of God go you and I.