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
Silence
SilenceA Novel byShusaku EndoIn your back-story I would guess there are some traumatic images you would like to un-see and some painful words you would prefer to un-hear. Do you also have in your memory a troubling book you wish you could un-read? For years, Silence...
The Faith of Christopher Hitchens
The Faith of Christopher HitchensThe Restless Soul of the World's Most Notorious Atheistby Larry Alex TauntonLarry Taunton has chosen an intriguing title for his book about the late, well known author, literary and religious critic and polemicist, Christopher...
The Spirituality of Wine
The Spirituality of WinebyGisela H. KreglingerIn my lifetime I have not paid much attention to the presence of wine in the stories in the Bible. Other than perhaps the metaphor of the vine and branches (John 15:5) and the establishment of the Eucharist at the Last...
Two Books for Eastertide
Two Books for EastertideIt is Eastertide, the fifty-day season in the Church that has as its theme the Resurrection of Jesus. It is a time of awe, elation and beauty; a time for sharing the joy of salvation and new life. This Eastertide two books have helped to add to...
You Are What You Love
You Are What You Love:The Spiritual Power of Habitby James K.A. Smith Do you think of yourself as a "brain-on-a-stick" or a "thinking-thing"? James K. A. Smith suggests this idea may be the prevailing view of what human creatures are thanks to seventeenth-century...
The Dusty Ones
The Dusty Ones: Why Wandering Deepens Your Faithby A. J. SwobodaWandering down the road less traveled seems to be a harmless pastime in most settings, but when it comes to living the Christian life, the idea of wandering away has a worrisome connotation, one that...
Life’s Too Short to Pretend You’re Not Religious
Life's Too Short to Pretend You're Not Religiousby David DarkBefore reading Life's Too Short to Pretend You're Not Religious (2016, Intervarsity Press), take some time to sweep your gaze across the cultural landscape, then get ready to launch into a rip-roaring...
Surprised by Scripture
Surprised By Scripture: Engaging Contemporary Issuesby N. T. Wright Are you someone who loves surprises? Surprises can happen in all areas of life, but to those who are familiar with the Bible and have heard its stories from childhood, being surprised by...
My Name is Lucy Barton
My Name Is Lucy Barton A Novel by Elizabeth Strout My Name Is Lucy Barton (Random House 2016) by the 2009 Pulitzer Prize winning author Elizabeth Strout, is a touching and troubling story concerning a young married woman, Lucy Barton, who lives in New York in the...
Three Books for Lent
Three Books for Lent We are well into Lent, the season in the church year which focuses our attention on Jesus' final earthly days, especially his Passion, which Wikipedia describes this way: "In Christianity, the Passion (from Late Latin: passionem "suffering,...