The Seraph Seal Review

“It’s the end of the world as we know it…”  In this engaging (though not always convincing story), authors Sweet and Wagner give us a glimpse of one version of the future.

The plot, at least at the start of the book, jumped around to so many different story lines that the book seemed very disjointed.  It reminded me of the movie, Syriana with all of its jumps and cuts.  Yet, like the movie, as it progresses, the book begins to tie together  those threads into a whole.

At it’s premise it deals with a group of people who are struggling to find their role in the unfolding drama of “last day” events.  While I appreciated the move away from the “Left Behind” silliness I could only shake my head at times of some alternate end-times scenario silliness just forced in the other direction.

I am thinking, in particular, of the the way in which the book ends (though examples could be pulled from a number of places).  I don’t want to give the ending away but I felt cheated that the authors chose to end the book in this fashion.  I am not one to feel that the authors owe me a clean, sanitized, happy ending…but at least one that is somewhat believable.

But, it is a work of fiction.  And as such, the authors are free to develop the story as they see fit.  Especially as we deal with “last day” issues the cloud of unknowing is admittedly strong and open to considerate and thoughtful possibilities within a fictional work which Sweet and Wagner have given us.

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 Six Pack 2011 Edition

Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream by H.G. Bissinger

So I am a little biased.  I have never seen the movie with Billy Bob Thornton (and may never will – not a big Billy Bob fan).  But my wife and I got hooked on the incredible T.V. series based off the movie.  The movie, however, was based off a book.  The book is based off a real life Texas team that the author followed around for a year.  Many situations that happened in the book actually find their way into the T.V. series (albeit in revised and nuanced ways).  The book had sports, passion, unbelievable events that made it, at times, read like fiction.  A searing look into high school sports (and the biggest sport of them all – especially in Texas) and how lives are affected in all sorts of ways by winning or losing and the impact it can have on families and communities.  An incredible read.

Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church by N.T. Wright

To say that I am an N.T. Wright fan would be an overwhelming understatement.  His books constantly challenge, prick, prod, and force one to some theological soul-searching.  I may not always walk away agreeing with him but I never walk away angry over his positions, how he has presented them, or feeling cheated by taking my time to read his thoughts and insights.  In this book, Wright takes on the common (mis)conception that “heaven is the point” of that the New Testament writers speak about.  His contention is that if we see “heaven as the main point” we are missing out on the true thrust of New Testament theology which doesn’t invite us to be overly concerned with “life after death” but calls us to anticipate  “life after life after death” and how the latter perspective will ultimately affect us in the present and allow us, individually and as the catholic church, to be a better witness in and to the world.

Following Jesus: Biblical Reflections on Discipleship by N.T. Wright

The second Wright book on my 6 pack.  But, deservedly so.  Each chapter, or meditation, either deals with a NT testament letter/gospel  (the whole flow of the book) and how they can inform our lives today; or, they (the chapters) deal with 6 major NT themes.  His treatment of resurrection; heaven and hell and new life are particularly good.

Hurry Down Sunshine: a memoir by Michael Greenberg

I don’t remember how I even stumbled onto this book ( I think, maybe, I just saw it at our local library and thought it looked interesting).    It tells the real life story and journey of a family and their bi-polar daughter.  It is sad, insightful, bitter and painfully honest.  It only got just over a 3 1/4 stars over at Goodreads but, in my opinion, was a story worth reading.  There are no happy endings or tidy answers.  A great book.

Touch: Pressing Against the Wounds of a Broken World by Rudy Rasmus

I could have substituted this book with any one of about 3 books, but at the end of the day it was this pastors passion to make a difference to “the least of these” in his community (and community of faith).  It was truly inspiring to see where he came from to where God took him and the type of ministry he had to people who had hit rock bottom.  It also tells the reason why he loves the unlovely and touches the untouchables.   A great book that inspires, refreshes, and gives a glimpse of how to reach out in the name of Christ with practical expressions of love, grace, forgiveness…..touch.

Common Nonsense: Glenn Beck and the Triumph of Ignorance by Alexander Zaitchik

An engaging book that tackles the most troubling conservative figure today.  We know that O’Reilly lives in his own spin zone; that Hannity is a blowhard; that Rose and Quinn are angry and contradictory; and that Rush is completely arrogant and wants others to buy into him being the smartest guy in the room….Beck, on the other hand, wants people to believe in his humble goofiness and humor and yet remains the most off-the-wall, bizarre, and completely self-righteous radio personality (is it fair even to call him a political commentator?) out there.  This book systematically shows Beck in all his zaniness (read: craziness) and the fact that he is a walking contradiction taking things (and ideas) out of context and trying to pass off his hyper-insane conspiracy theories as reality.

The Hushed Tones of Grace and Humility

Grace and humility is so lacking in discourse anymore.  And, yet again, the culprits are, everyone to be sure, but exceedingly those who claim that civil discourse has been displaced by angry, hateful people who want to turn this country into a socialist experiment.

Just the other day I heard Michelle Obama referred to as “Moochelle” because of her apparent love of telling others how to eat but her own fondness for greasy, fatty foods.  If one wants to point out hypocrisy with our leaders (and their spouses)….fine, but why must you lower yourself to this childish level?

I heard, from other source, President Obama described as having “just big ears”.  What possible explanation could provide justification for this 4th grade insult?

These are the same comments that fall into the line of thinking that claim those who side with Obama, or question our presence in Iraq, or whatever are America hating, communist loving socialists (or something like that….there are so many words flung around it seems to be a competition of who can string together the longest phrase of inflammatory insults).

All this proves is that no love for discourse or differing opinions is wanted (but isn’t allowing diversity  truly an American thing?).  It proves that either conversation is not welcomed or conversation cannot truly happen because those phrases are said simply to shut down conversation (perhaps because the person using them has no real arguments to maintain a conversation with).  It proves that if you still live in a mentality where if you can simply cut down your opponent with elementary/junior high humor….you win.

For me….if that is the type of conversation people want to purse (name calling, etc)….then, okay, you win.

I would rather speak in hushed tones of grace and humility.  Not that I do this at all times, for i don’t.  I don’t do it as much as I should, or as much as I would like.  Grace and humility isn’t not having an opinion (even a strong one).  It’s not about weakly backing down from a “tense conversation”.  But it is about listening.  It’s about loving.  It’s about cutting through all of our desires to be right and proving that…or at least, proving the other person wrong.  It is speaking what we believe but speaking that with a sense that there is so much more to learn and know.  It is speaking with a sense that maybe, just maybe, our opinions could be tweaked by the other, now or later.  It is speaking to truly know the thoughts of those we are speaking with.

Conversations in hushed tones of grace and humility will never be loud or self-seeking but be quiet redemptive moments that speak for truth in ways in which “the other” will know that even if there is disagreement there is love and respect.  Truth isn’t diminished with grace and humility….truth is put on display through that grace and humility. It is funny how truth tends to be heard more in “hushed tones of grace and humility” rather that shouted and yelled out.

$250,000 is Peanuts and the Troops are Doing More.

Again, some “tea-party conservatives” would have us believe that those making $200,000 or more p/yr as singles, or those families making $250,000 p/yr (or more) are “really not making a lot of money…they’re really not”.

Like I have said before, $250,000 sure beats my $10.50 I earn an hour working at a non-profit (group home) with my Master’s degree.  But maybe Quinn and Rose are right….I shouldn’t complain that my income puts me and my family at the poverty level, I should encourage congress to realize that $250,000 is “living on the edge of poverty” and that I should just try harder and magically get a better job.  Come to think of it….I have now pushed the “easy button” and see the complete rationality of Quinn and Rose (and many other conservatives).

Phew.  Thanks guys for helping me see that I earn $10.50 an hour to help troubled and challenged teens make better choices in life so they don’t continue the cycle that may of their family members find themselves in and all I really need to do is find a radio station that will let me spout my opinions on politics, religion and do most of it bordering so closely to hate and have that job pay me, at least, double what I make now (of course making $40-50,000 would definitely put me on the streets).  I definitely see the advantage to society that would bring.  What we need is not more pastors, or counselors, or people to work in group homes or in a number of non-profit jobs….we need more people like Rush, or Glen or people who are doing “real” work.

And on the subject of “real” work.  I was extremely disappointed with one of Dennis Miller’s fill-in’s this past week.  To his credit he remarked that those who are working in soup kitchens are doing great work and that needs to continue.  But to my dismay he then said that the troops fighting overseas were doing a whole heck of a lot more than those serving others here in the states.

Silly me I thought taking care of the poor, the needy, the widowed, the outcast, the downcast, the broken, the battered, the stranger, the alien were things that marked me as someone who actually gets it.  To be fair not everyone shares that Christian worldview.   That is why the Christ-follower and the community of faith present to the world upside-down (which are really right side-up) values.  It’s not about the powerful or power; but the broken, and the humble.  It’s not about fighting and violence; it’s about peace-making and loving our enemies; it’s not about making sure I get mine; it is being struck with the idea that, yes, I am my brothers keeper; it’s not about how much can I get and keep for myself; it is living with gratitude and longing to see how I can help others.

Order.

I read today, on a blog that i periodically check, a “lament” of sorts as to why this person did not have more order in their life.  The house being cleaned, broken things fixed, meals being prepared and ready, etc.  You know, life being a little less crazy; a little more calm.  Order.

My first thought was this:  stop blogging so much.  I like what this person writes but they are constantly blogging, taking pictures (not a bad thing, but then uploading those to their blog), starting up and running different ministry opportunities (and then trying to raise funds for those ministries and then deal with all the logistics).

This is what I wrote on their blog:

“I know this may not be the most popular answer you receive but here it goes: have you thought maybe you need to lay off the blogging, and picture posting, and trying to juggle one big ministry project after another?

Technology is wonderful but it can utilize large and vast amounts of our time – stealing away minutes or hours that can be used for other things.

God has blessed you in a number of areas and so you need to utilize those talents and gifts, however it is a double edged sword. Our greatest strengths can be our weakness in not allowing us to focus and deal with things that perhaps we, and the end of the day, don’t really want to do (b/c it isn’t where our gifting lays). Eugene Peterson once said something to the effect that going to our mailbox was a spiritual act. Getting order in your house is a spiritual act (and not a small one).

Our houses won’t be perfect but how much time would you have (would I have) if we stopped saying, on our blog, twitter, facebook, etc, we need order (or time, or whatever) and simply unplugged, disconnected, took a sabbath, rested from the technology that once was our servant but now demands more and more of our time and we feel increasingly obligated to indulge.

Just my thoughts…..like i said, probably won’t be the most p0pular of answers but it’s my two cents (and probably not even worth that much).”

This wasn’t just “something for them” that I wrote.  My last post on this blog was over a month ago.  This is something that I am trying to live out in my life personally.  I really have felt much better and seem to have accomplished more in the last month since I haven’t taken my blog so seriously (in terms of where I feel an overwhelming need to post all the time).  Plus I have refused twitter and facebook.  That doesn’t make me super spiritual, or cool, or hip….but rather I have noticed how much time people have devoted to these endeavors and I got to a point where I asked myself…is that who I want to become. 

Not everyone who blogs, twitters, facebooks, etc. is an addict with no life….this is not what i mean (or my point).  Rather, in our efforts to embrace technology and utilize it…have we swung the pendulum a little bit to far the other way?  Where, for some, virtual relationships seem more real than face to face?  Where our virtual life is of more importance than our flesh and blood one?  I think some are able to handle it really well and some not so much.  Maybe I fear that I would fall under the “not so much” column.

Everyone’s A…..

Hypocrite.  We try not to be, but yet at the end of a long day….we typically fall prey to doing one thing and saying another.  I could recount my many own shortcomings in this regard (many, many, many, many, etc.), but the point was struck by another source.  Albeit that this source is hypocritical is not the main issue but rather highlights the idea that everyone is…..especially those who like to point fingers at others for being hypocrites.

The source?  Rush Limbaugh.  I know….surprising.

I try and be an open person and listen and read both sides of issues and to that extent I listen to conservative talk radio on my drive into and from work.  Typically listen to Quinn and Rose in the mornings and Dennis Miller coming home.  Today, i had to leave early and so was able to catch about 10 minutes or so of Rush.  Most of these shows are 5 minutes of them talking, then 2 or 3 minutes of mentioning sponsors, 3-4 minutes of more talking or phone calls (in which there is no dialogue but rather the caller saying about 30 secs worth of something and the hosts saying something for the next 2 to 3 minutes) after which they cut to commercials breaks that serve to help finance their shows.

One of the sponsors that Rush had was a tax specialist company.  Something similiar to TaxMasters but just a different company.   Doesn’t it seem odd that a group of people who spend large amounts of their on-air time (and even print time) railing against those who receive handouts as, basically, lazy and unwilling to work and describe them as free-loaders that, especially them but also the rest of society, has to support, and who get fired up about those who pay in no taxes but, rather, get tax money back at the end of the year because their salaries are to low to pay anything in (and by extension, again, people who have those types of jobs are lazy and unwilling to work and give their “fair-share”) are now pitching commercials for a group of people who will work hard to eliminate potentially up to 85% of back taxes owed?

Strange world we live in.  Strange, hypocritical world we live in.  These same people who don’t like “entitlements” are the same ones who “invest” their money in tax shelters and find other legal (ie – “creative”) ways to get out of paying taxes on money earned.  These same people who don’t like those who don’t pay in taxes are the same ones who will, willingly, to receive money in the form of sponsorship, give out the name of those who will help those who owe back taxes due to whatever (good or bad reasons) and help get rid of up to, potentially, 85% of what was originally owed.

Of course if others were to say, “hey, i need my refund check from the government b/c I have a job that doesn’t pay well enough for me to pay into taxes and this money helps my family and I survive for the rest of the year” we would hear about how real, hard-working, tax-paying Americans should be upset about carrying these lazy, free-loaders on their backs.

So what is the deal?  Are we only in to helping a certain segment of the population?  A particular group is only worthy of tax-breaks (even if that segment OWES money)?  Maybe the segment isn’t boiled down to race.  Maybe the only group worthy of special consideration by the likes of Quinn and Rose, Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, etc. are those enlightened souls who care enough to listen daily, hourly and by the minute to their broadcasts (or FOX News in general).

How many times have I heard this over and over.  It is the OTHER side that is hypocritical.  Blah, blah, blah.  Are liberals hypocritical?  Sure.  Are conservatives?  Yep.  Tea party?  You bet.  But of course we know it is way easier to point fingers then to admit that three are pointing back at us.

Splitting Hairs?

Just like a lot of people I was riveted by the unfolding drama that was/is the United States Women’s Soccer Team.  I was disappointed in their finals loss to Japan – but it was a heck of  a game!

In explaining the game to a co-worker who had to work over the weekend I basically said that the United States pretty much beat themselves and that statement, I told him, wasn’t taking away from the Japanese team.  I came home and a poll on Sportsline was asking the same question:  did the United States choke or did Japan have the better team?

That got me thinking.  Maybe I was wrong.

Are we splitting hairs?  Perhaps to make ourselves feel better?  Did the US make some bad plays?  Yes.  However, Japan had to capitalize on those to keep themselves in the game and eventually win.  The United States didn’t just beat themselves – Japan did (and beat them pretty good in penalty kicks).  To even ask the question puts the desired (and expected ) answer out in the open.  We want to believe that Japan really wasn’t that good (good, but not that good) and it was more or less our girls “choking”, you know, messing it up for themselves rather than being beat by a better team.  Should the US have beaten Japan – maybe, but not on Sunday.  On Sunday – Japan was the better team.  Period. We need to step out of the spin zones and be honest with ourselves – as much as we hate to admit it and not believe it to be true – on that given day, the United States was the second best team on the field and was beat plain and simple by the better team.  But considering that out of all the countries that tried to qualify for the world cup and that made it to the tournament and the amazing game the US had against Brazil to be second is nothing to be embarrassed with or upset about.  GREAT JOB USA!!!

By the way, i just checked sportsline and cast my vote as to whether the US “choked” or Japan had the better team.  It produced these statistics:  Of all the people who responded – 19344 people; 82% said the US “choked” and 18 % said Japan had the better team.