Book Reviews

Posted: 11/16/07

Book Reviews

A Dream That Came to Life: The History of the Laity Lodge Retreat Center by Howard Hovde (Smyth & Helwys)

Laity Lodge Director Emeritus Howard Hovde paints a wonderful picture of a place described as “like going to heaven without having to pass through the Pearly Gates.” Hovde shares background stories of the Holdsworth and Butt families that united through the marriage of Mary Holdsworth to Howard E. Butt Sr., founder of the HEB grocery company. Together, they created a nonprofit foundation to “help meet needs of families, children and the community.” The foundation eventually purchased a 1,900-acre ranch near Leakey for children to enjoy. Their oldest son, Howard Jr., expanded the dream to include a retreat center where lay people could learn about “integrating faith and love into everyday living.”

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Hovde intersperses philosophy, organization and history with interesting stories of people who influenced the direction of Laity Lodge. For good measure, he adds heart stories of those influenced by the center, including author Madeleine L’Engle (A Wrinkle in Time) and The Message translator Eugene Peterson, who wrote while staying at Laity Lodge. A valuable appendix, including leadership tips, poems and a list of significant books, completes the work.

Inspiring stories turn what could be a dry history into a quick read.

Kathy Robinson Hillman, former president

Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas, Waco

Fusion! Gospel: The Gospel of Jesus Christ by Allan Tracy (XLibris)

Allan Tracy presents a “seamless and chronological gospel presentation.” Attempts at harmonizing the Gospels commonly produce parallel-column harmonies or prose renderings. Tracy, however, weaves Gospel texts “into a single telling of events,” generally following the accepted chronology of Jesus.

Reading Jesus’ full story has undeniable value, the greatest of which is to generate further study. Without verse markings or a reference grid, finding the underlying passages for this work is a chore.

Caution rules regarding Tracy’s “merging of details,” which often requires merging verses. Blending Matthew 5:3 with Luke 6:20 yields “Happy, in spirit, are the poor” replacing spiritual poverty with worldly poverty. Luke’s “Blessed are you who hunger now” plus Matthew’s “those who mourn” becomes “Happy are those who mourn for now.”

Locating landmark passages is difficult. John’s prologue appears between John the Baptist’s ministry and Jesus’ baptism. Thus the gospel’s grand overture is neutralized and John 1:14, “The word became flesh” is omitted! One wonders what else has been excluded.

No explanations for translation or harmonization are provided, and the work begs for independent study helps. The book will be best used with informed guidance.

Mark Dunn, pastor

Rosemont Baptist Church, Montrose, Colo.

Being Christian in an Almost Chosen Nation: Thinking About Faith And Politics by H. Stephen Shoemaker (Abingdon)

The presidential election already is in full swing.

This book expresses the author’s hope that America, a superpower with strong ideals in its history, will with humility seek to become the country it ought to be.

The book’s title is derived from President Lincoln’s hope, on the verge of the Civil War in 1861, that the crisis would be used as “an humble instrument in the hands of the Almighty and of this his almost chosen people.” That combines idealism with realism.

The second half of Stephen Shoemaker’s book has notes from nine sermons he preached between 2002 and 2005. Their treatment of faith and politics stimulates the reader who needs thoughts about what our nation must be.

Bob Beck, intentional interim pastor

Fort Worth