Part-Time Vegan

Over the past seven or so years, two of my daughters have been vegetarians.  My youngest, a senior in High School is still living at home, so over the years my wife and I have been part time vegetarians.  When I saw Cherise Grifoni’s new book The Part-Time Vegan, I was intrigued.

What I appreciated about the book, was her no guilt approach to being a Vegan.  Too often, people who adopt that lifestyle want to convert everybody else that they become like worst evangelical Christians or Jehovah Witness.  She is not at all.  She lays out why she adopted this part-time lifestyle and why it could be beneficial to the rest of us – without the guilt.

I have only tried a couple of the recipes and the were very good.  I am sure I will continue to eat my way through the book.  My biggest complaint is that she can be, well to lack a better word, silly.  Otherwise, it is a pretty solid recipe book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Max on Life

Over the years I have read a number of books by pastor, teacher and author Max Lucado.  All of those books are what I would call devotional fiction.  He took a biblical event and then created a story around it trying to teach what he felt was the biblical lesson.  As I have said other times, I find his style simplistic and sweet --- I often think that we don’t live in the same world.  That notion really struck home as I read his latest book: Max on Life.  It is, as best I know, Max Lucado’s first attempt to really state his theology, in a semi-systematic way.

The genesis for the book is a collection of questions that Lucado has collected over his 25 plus years in ministry.  The questions came the way that questions usually do, sometimes solicited, other times spontaneous.  The questions came through letters, e-mails, even, he tells us, on a Dunkin Donut napkin.  In Max on Life, Lucado gives his answers to these often provocative questions.

The book covers questions about everything, from prayer to suffering in the world.  It also includes the seemingly mundane like parenting issues and financial questions.

While many reviewers love his answers, I find them trite and simplistic.  This book is meant for the choir --- if you are not a believer (or at least a non-believer who wants deep answers) you are not going to be satisfied with the answers that Lucado gives.

Overall, I cannot recommend this book, it isn’t bad, it just isn’t very good.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Final Summit --- Engaging, yet simplictic!

A few months ago, a friend gave me The Traveler's Gift to read.  I have not read it yet, but after reading, Andy Andrews: The Final Summit: A Quest to Find the One Principle That Will Save Humanity, I feel the need to go back and read it.

The story is engaging:  humanity is running out of time, due to centuries of greed, pride and hate.  We have wandered far from our God given purpose, and there seems to be only one solution that can set the world back on the right course.  That solution consists of only two words, that Ponder must figure out.

David Ponder, who was introduced in The Traveler’s Gift, is a special human who has been chosen to help save humanity.  Along the way, Ponder meets fellow Traveler’s (Churchill, Lincoln, Ann Frank, Benjamin Franklin, and others) who help him solve the riddle on what must be done to save humanity.

If only the answer to our problems were so simple.  Andrew’s theological understanding of God leaves much to be desired.  God seems to be a capricious S.O.B. who can’t deal with the failure of creation, so God needs to find a way to either get people on the right track or to start over. 

If you tend to get sucked into theological syllogisms, then you might want to skip the book.  But if you can see past a very small vision of God this is a fun and creative book to read.

When I read books I am always looking for sermon material, this one will provide material for a great sermon.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Finding Our Way Again --- Brian McLaren --- A Good Read

This is the first book in “The Ancient Practices” series that I have read.  This series is designed to open up classical spirituality in a modern way.

I have to admit, that for the most part I am a fan of Brian McLaren, I find his theology and understand of Christianity refreshing, as he challenges us to experience the living Jesus and not simply the theological Christ.

If you are a student of the Spiritual Practices, or have read Richard Foster’s Classic 1978 work: The Celebration of Discipline, you might be disappointed.  But for the average person, or someone who needs a kick start on finding their way again, they will find great tools and insights in this book.

What some people find difficult with McLaren’s work is the idea that God’s door is open to people who don’t fit into the current evangelically defined definition of what a Christian is.  This is not the place for that debate, but if you believe that God’s accessibility is ONLY through Jesus as defined by the evangelical church today, run, don’t walk from this book, because you will hate it.  For the rest of us, we will find great tools and questions to help us on our journey.

This book is a simple read, but the questions and the end of every chapter provide for the opportunity for some serious reflection.

I would recommend this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”