The Open Table – Book Reviews
Jesus was known –some would say notoriously so—for His “open table” eating style. In the Gospels, Jesus loved to share life at the table with others and never refused an offer to eat with someone. Most of Jesus’ great discussions with His disciples and others happened around the table. In honor of that model, The Open Table is a forum where all are welcome to join in the conversation about the books suggested and more. It’s a place where book reviews will be served up, but also where other thoughts, observations, and life happenings can be discussed and ideas savored. Your participation is encouraged. All contributions will be valued and nourished. Good manners are expected of course at The Table. Welcome to The Open Table. I hope we can meet here often. Great times are ahead! –thyrkas
How God Became King
How God Became King By Tom Wright ISBN: 9780061730573 --Review by Doug Balzer My fascination with Tom (NT) Wright continues as I review another one of his books “How God Became King.” Reading the title, my thoughts went to the idea that it is common knowledge...
The Zookeeper’s Wife
The Zookeeper’s Wife, starring Jessica Chastain, Johan Heldenbergh, Daniel Brühl --Review by Ashley Linne This film is rated PG-13. The Zookeeper’s Wife is based on the lesser-known true story of the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, who saved hundreds of Jews during World...
Mother Tongue
Mother Tongue: How Our Heritage Shapes Our Story By Leonard Sweet --Review by Paula Jones In Leonard Sweet’s latest offering, he offers his readers the best he has to offer––his mother. And because mothers usually have the greatest influence of anyone on our...
On Living
On Living by Kerry Egan --Review by Teri Hyrkas Kerry Egan, author of On Living (10/2016, Riverhead Books), is a hospice chaplain -- a profession that, in Egan's experience, has been difficult to explain to family and friends, and seems not to be understood or...
The Power of Positive Deviance
The Power of Positive Deviance: How Unlikely Innovators Solve the World's Toughest Problems by Richard Pascale, Jerry Sternin, and Monique Sternin ISBN: 978-1-4221-1066-9 --Review by Douglas Balzer In 2008 I was introduced to the concept of positive...
The Shack
The Shack, starring Sam Worthington, Octavia Spencer, and Tim McGraw This film is rated PG-13. SPOILER ALERT: This review assumes the reader has seen the film or read the book. -Review by Ashley Linne The theological controversies around this film are being...
The Market as God
The Market as God by Harvey Cox --Review by Paula Jones Considering that I haven’t balanced a checkbook in 30 years, and that I would rather have a root canal than talk to a financial-planner about investment portfolios, it would be an understatement to say...
A Book of Signs
The Book of Signs: A Crowdsourced Field Guide for Followers of Jesus by Thomas E. Ingram --Review by Teri Hyrkas If you need a midwinter pick-me-up book to read, The Book of Signs: A Crowdsourced Field Guide for Followers of Jesus (2016, Linen Press) by Thomas E....
Weird Ideas That Work
Weird Ideas That Work: How to Build a Creative Company By Robert I. Sutton ISBN:978-0-7432-2788-9 (pbk) --Review by Douglas Balzer As a resident of the metro area of Portland Oregon, there is an attraction to the title of this book due to the word Weird in its title....
Hidden Figures
Hidden Figures, starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe --Review by Ashley Linne This film is rated PG. This movie combines two of my favorite things: strong women and space. Hidden Figures tells the true story of the history-making triumphs of three...