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Review - This is Our Story: Free Church Women's Ministry |
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Written by Karyl Davison
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Wednesday, 17 September 2008 19:52 |
This is Our Story: Free Church Women's Ministry
Edited by Janet Wootton
Epworth, Peterborough
The mere fact that women figure as much as they do in the scriptures, despite the male-dominated
nature of the societies from which these texts came, indicates that women played significant
ministry and leadership roles. Yet despite their many achievements, the Church has rarely told their
stories, a terrible irony considering the way Jesus himself regarded women and their ministries.
This book is an attempt to outline the general story of women and ministry, a story that is far longer
and more varied than we might imagine. This is Our Story recalls the ministry and mission of women
in the Free Churches of England and Wales, non-Anglican churches of the Reformation including the
United Reformed, Baptist and Methodist Churches. It offers insight and theological reflection on
women's ministry within this tradition, and a historical perspective on the ministry of women
throughout Christian history. This outline is complemented by some diverse voices - voices of
experience as women describe their individual, sometimes painful, journeys into ministry.
While this book is a celebration of the ministry of women, it also describes some of the frustration
experienced by both women and men at the denial and resistance of ministry by women. You will
be inspired by the courage and determination of these women, women seeking to live out their God
given call. Their stories deserve to be told and heard.
Karyl Davison |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 20 December 2008 13:12 )
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Review - The Breath of God |
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Written by Karyl Davison
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Wednesday, 17 September 2008 19:46 |
The Breath of God
Nancy Roth
Seabury Books, New York
RRP $21.95
This little book is a practical guide to prayer, and how it can and should be incorporated into our
busy lives. Roth suggest that our physical breath can become a metaphor for the different ways of
praying. Just as our physical breath is affected by our life situation and environment, so too our
prayer is affected by the things going on within and around us.
Throughout the book Roth makes practical suggestions about how each way of praying can be
woven into the fabric of our lives. Recognising that prayer doesn't always come easily, she includes
prayer that engages with different learning styles, and prayer that appeals to the senses. The text is
interspersed with exercises, and is useful for both individual and group exploration of prayer.
The Breath of God is a simple and practical approach to prayer. I recommend it to anyone who
would like to improve their prayer life, or learn how to slow down and allow God to be heard.
Karyl Davison
Rural Ministry Coordinator, Central Queensland & Mary Burnett Presbyteries |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 20 December 2008 13:13 )
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Review - The Acts of Jesus: The Search for the Authentic Deeds of Jesus |
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Written by Karyl Davison
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Monday, 15 September 2008 20:25 |
The Acts of Jesus: The Search for the Authentic Deeds of Jesus
Robert W. Funk & The Jesus Seminar
Polebridge Press, $55.95
Founded by Robert W Funk in 1985, The Jesus Seminar is a group of academic theologians who study Christian writings from the 1st to 3rd century of the Common Era in a quest to discover the historical Jesus and present their findings to the public. The task being undertaken by the Jesus Seminar is to analyse the Bible in order to improve their understanding of it. Initially, their goal was to determine, historically speaking, what Jesus actually said. The Acts of Jesus is the result of their second goal to describe what can be historically determined that Jesus did.
The Acts of Jesus is a fresh and readable translation, one in which translators hope to effect for the reader an experience similar to that of the first readers (or listeners) of the original. It goes beyond the scope of the canonical scriptures, with the inclusion of additional gospels including those discovered in the 20th century. These non-canonical gospels are used both as additional source material, and in their own right. The Scholars Version translation uses contemporary colloquialisms and rough language where it is considered warranted in the Greek. The result is that the text itself is sometimes quite surprising, almost jarring. At times The Acts of Jesus seems quite repetitive, as it explores an act of Jesus from a number of gospels with slight variations before providing an analysis of the event.
The outcome of the deliberations of The Jesus Seminar on the authentic acts of Jesus outlined in this book will be hard for many to read, let alone agree with. But for those who wish to be aware of the increasing breadth of scholarship about Jesus Christ, this book is both interesting and challenging. |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 20 December 2008 13:14 )
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Review - The End of Charity: Time for Social Enterprise |
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Written by Karyl Davison
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Monday, 15 September 2008 20:24 |
The End of Charity: Time for Social Enterprise
Nic Frances
Allen & Unwin
The delivery of charity and welfare to the poor and marginalized has changed enormously over the past few decades. Yet the need is as great as it's ever been. In The End of Charity, Nic Frances, social entrepreneur, Anglican priest and formerly CEO of The Brotherhood of St Laurence, argues that we need to move beyond notions of charity and welfare and towards a completely different approach in addressing issues of poverty, inequality and environmental sustainability.
Frances's argument is quite simple, “the market can be a tool for delivering a range of values other than profit. While recognizing the negative impacts of the market, we must accept that it is the system in which the world operates and use it as a tool for change. In order for that to happen effectively, he argues, we must move to value centred market economics“ placing a dollar value on social values such as poverty, social cohesion, accessible and equitable education, health and house, and environmental sustainability.
Frances points to the to the tobacco industry which over recent decades has had to come to terms with the true cost of its product. Through government regulation, litigation and increased taxes the tobacco giants have been forced to subsidise the enormous costs to our health system and compensate those affected by smoking.
Imagine how things might change if the true cost of carbon pollution was to be added to every tonne of coal burned.
Frances is advocating an end to charity because instead of driving change, he argues it supports the status quo. This is an important discussion if we wish to
become part of a just and sustainable world. Highly recommended.
Karyl Davison |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 20 December 2008 13:18 )
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Review - The Fat Jesus: Feminist Explorations in Boundaries and Transgressions |
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Written by Karyl Davison
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Monday, 15 September 2008 20:22 |
The Fat Jesus: Feminist Explorations in Boundaries and Transgressions
Lisa Isherwood
Darton, Longman & Todd, 2007
Who'd have thought that there was so much more to food and eating beyond the mere functional, or the occasionally pleasurable? The Fat Jesus explores the oft troubled relationship between Christianity, patriarchy, women and food.
Isherwood identifies the multiple symbolic importance of food in Christian history from Eve's apple, to female saints nourished only by the Eucharist, to Christian diet programmes such as ‘Slim for Him’ and ‘no fatties in heaven’ that encourage women to lose physically because, participants are told, they are sinning by being overweight. The book explores the ways in which women relate to food, and some of the paradoxical messages contained in relationship with religious contexts, for instance as controllers of the food (on the meal table) and as over consumers.
The book also looks at some links between beauty, slenderness and the Judeo-Christian God in an attempt to understand why there are no images of a fat Jesus; the recent phenomenon of eating disorders and the flourishing diet industry; and paradoxically the problems of obesity and overconsumption.
The Fat Jesus is a fascinating read. It addresses an issue that is important in our body image obsessed culture. However, it feels as though Isherwood is trying to achieve too much in this slim volume. Quite a bit of prior knowledge has been assumed and there is little discussion about some of the claims made. Yet there is more than enough to engage anyone with an interest in the religious dimensions of culture and the politics of food, not to mention some of the more outrageous theological claims of the religious right in the US.
Karyl Davison |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 20 December 2008 13:21 )
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Review - No Ordinary View: a season of faith and mission in the Himalayas |
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Written by Karyl Davison
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Monday, 15 September 2008 20:18 |
No Ordinary View: a season of faith and mission in the Himalayas
Naomi Reed
Ark House Press
No Ordinary View is the story of one family, a family living out God's call on their lives in the mountains of Nepal. In her earlier book, My Seventh Monsoon, Reed described how she and husband Darren, both physiotherapists answered the call to put their faith in action in Nepal.
Now with three young children, they return to set up their home in Dhulikhel, Nepal, train local physiotherapists and share their faith. Despite the sure knowledge that God had called them there, Reed recounts the everyday struggles of living in another culture, isolation, and powerlessness as local Nepali friends struggled with hopelessness and loss, and a ten year civil war.
No Ordinary View is a gentle yet inspiring read. Their story is told with humour and openness yet there is a challenge in there for us all. How much are we willing to live by faith to hear and answer God's call on our lives?
Karyl Davison |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 20 December 2008 13:23 )
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(Read by Max McLean. Provided by The Listener's Audio Bible.)