Posted: 4/27/07

Posted: 4/27/07

Book Reviews

Summer of Light: A Novel

By W. Dale Cramer (Bethany House)

What happens when a rough-hewn construction worker becomes a stay-at-home mom? A rollicking good story.

Of course, Mick Brannigan’s first reaction is anything but agreeable when his wife, Layne, asks him to stay home with 4-year-old Dylan, recently diagnosed with sensory integration dysfunction. But a chain of events not unlike those that befell Jonah quickly changes his mind.

Christy Award-winning W. Dale Cramer tells an engaging tale about a man who gives up bringing home the bacon for the dubious task of frying it. Cramer’s characters are wonderfully real and will have you laughing out loud as you follow their antics.

What are you reading that other Texas Baptists would find helpful? Send suggestions and reviews to [email protected].

There’s no pretense here. Just a real man trying to corral three very real kids, a flock of chickens, a goat and a diabolically intelligent dog. In the process, though, he learns to be comfortable with never knowing what the day will bring. He learns there’s value to being there for his family. And he begins to grasp that God’s light can be found in unusual places. As he explores faith and social prejudice, neighborliness and family values, we learn along with him that being ourselves is all God really wants from us.

Summer of Light is an irresistible story full of wisdom and insight. Family issues, as seen from a man’s eyes, gives fresh perspective to old topics. You’ll find yourself cheering Mick on and regretting the story must end.

Kathryn Aragon

First Baptist Church, Duncanville

I Love Mormons: A New Way to Share Christ with Latter-Day Saints

By David L Rowe (Baker Books)

For years, David Rowe, a long time resident of Salt Lake City and professor at Salt Lake Theological Seminary, struggled with a question many evangelical Christians wrestle with in that cultural environment: “How do we speak the gospel to Mormons so that it really comes across as good news?”

Rowe’s own frustrations with attempting the more “traditional,” confrontational approaches to evangelizing Latter-Day Saints led him to write this “new approach” to building bridges to the Mormon community. Rowe’s basic argument is this: Mormonism is a religion with its own culture, lingo and worldview, and, consequently, the most effective way to reach Mormons is to begin by simply learning about and actually respecting their unique LDS cultural milieu.

Rowe proceeds to offer excellent summaries of Mormon behaviors, thoughts and values, as well as the theological grid in which Mormon beliefs can be understood better and challenged. He continues with practical advice on how to communicate with Mormons in ways that are more incarnational in approach rather than confrontational. Rowe concludes by suggesting practical ways in which churches graciously can welcome and support those who may be “in transition” with their LDS faith.

I Love Mormons is one of the most refreshingly good and gracious treatments of Mormonism I have ever encountered in 30-plus years of studying the subject. I would highly recommend this book, especially for those who have Mormon family or friends, or for anyone simply desiring a very clear and readable treatment of an often-confusing religious group.

Jim Lemons, pastor

River Oaks Baptist Church,

River Oaks

The Road to Unafraid

By Jeff Struecker with Dean Merrill (W Publishing Group)

Mark Bowden’s 1999 bestseller Black Hawk Down vividly visualized the story of the 1993 “Battle of Mogadishu,” the U.S. Army’s Delta Force and Ranger raid to capture two senior lieutenants of Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid as part of a UN peacekeeping force in Somalia.

One of those U.S. Army Rangers who was a part of that harrowing and heroic experience was Capt. Jeff Struecker.

Struecker tells his story of growing up under tough family circumstances, fearing death as a child until finding faith in Jesus Christ. He then recounts his experiences being involved as a Ranger in every U.S. military initiative since the 1989 invasion of Panama and earning the Best Ranger award in 1996. Along the way, he writes about his marriage to his wife, Dawn, and his closer walk with Christ and call to ministry after several years in the Army.

After attending seminary, Struecker was commissioned in 2000 as a chaplain and now ministers to the 2nd Ranger Battalion in Fort Lewis, Wash.

This is good book for readers of military biography or to give to loved ones serving in uniform.

Greg Bowman, minister to students

First Baptist Church, Duncanville