All posts by durough

Book Review: Outlaw Christian: Finding Authentic Faith by Breaking the “Rules”, by Jacqueline A. Bussie

August 26, 2016 durough Leave a comment

Lutheran professor Jacqueline A. Bussie’s Outlaw Christian: Finding Authentic Faith by Breaking the “Rules” reads like an infomercial for the purported latest and greatest form of “just be you” faith and new club: Outlaw Christians. She writes:

Outlaw Christianity: (noun)

a new, life-giving faith for those who ache for a more authentic relationship with God and other people by no longer having to hide their doubt, anger, grief, scars, or questions

an honest, outside-the-law faith for those seeking a hope that really speaks to the world’s hurt (p.xi)

Bussie rightly pushes back against the notions many have of not being able to be really in honest in some Christian circles, having to hide anger, doubt, and scars in the midst of real pain and uncertainty; however, the path taken in this book is not one to recommend. In order to travel this path, one must, as Bussie has, redefine a number of terms to create this new faith club. Rather than revere the Almighty, Bussie encourages the reader to bring God down to a human level as she does, stating that God learns and grows with us, comparing her relationship with him to an angry married couple in which both sides are flawed people just trying to figure things out and get along.

I concur that we can learn from people not like us, even other religions; but if it is not ultimately God honoring and glorifying then it is of no use. However, Bussie seems to take this a bit further down an apparent path of universalism when she writes about our “brothers and sisters of other religions” (137) and redefines sin by stating, “To keep things simple as well as practical and concrete, I now define evil and sin as anything we say, do, or believe (or fail to say, do, or believe) that robs us of our humanity or the earth of its dignity” (129). The emphasis of this book is certainly on oneself and being honest about one’s humanity, reveling in doubt and sharing each other’s pain and suffering, for which Bussie claims there is no other meaning than that it is shared. She reminds her reader that something isn’t sin if it’s honest; so be honest because that’s authentic and authenticity attracts.

So, while being honest and attempting to attract others to this new club of “outlaws” that is said to include Job, Jesus, and God, Bussie demonstrates where she’s really at with God when she states that he “carries a dead child, and that child is Jesus, and all of us too” (157). No, Jesus is risen! Yes, there is suffering, but there’s so much more that can be helpful for potential readers than to bring God completely down to an utterly flawed human level and say something like “he’s just like us, so he understands.” He understands, and has conquered!

To be fair, there are also small sections in the book that praise God and his love, but I think Bussie’s experience with her mother’s suffering and passing is still eating away at her and is the lens through which she sees her life, her students, and the rest of the world. Yes, we are called to participate in changing the world (examples of which are included in the final chapter and may or may not be helpful for a Christ follower), but it is in Christ that we should have our identity, and it is through and for him that we are able.

Given the poor exegesis and evaluation of the book of Job in the second chapter, I would not have gone any further had I not agreed to review this book. However, having finished it in its entirety, I can say that my concerns about its direction were validated. In its sincere desire to help and encourage struggling Christians or those who have been pushed away by hypocrisy, it can be even more damaging than the things it attempts to correct.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Game Reviews

Game Review: Punderdome®, by Jo and Fred Firestone

August 20, 2016 durough Leave a comment

Let’s not waste any time: Punderdome®, by Jo and Fred Firestone, is the worst game I’ve ever played. Ever. I play tested this with eight people last night who agreed to be guinea pigs for this review. As I opened the box and began reading the instruction card, I felt like we were following the first instructions perfectly:

Assembling Players
In order to play Punderdome, you’ll need to gather at least two or more of your most pun-tolerant friends and/or relatives. Inform them they are about to play this game with you. Apologize later.

This is some of the worst marketing, but seriously honest in anticipating players’ reactions. (Games are meant to be enjoyable and fun, remember?) I apologized after making them endure just three rounds of misery before we moved on to other games.

Apparently some comedians have a live game show on which this “card game” is based. Perhaps that New York venue and atmosphere a more aptly suited for the awkward performer and audience participation in the creation of uncomfortable puns, but a home based game will find few homes and audiences willing to endure the test.

Never mind that the game doesn’t even come with everything you need to play, it’s horribly unoriginal and lacks the input of anyone with experience in game mechanics. The only redeeming quality, and by that I mean it is in no way redeeming, is that it’s simply a flagrant combination of two beloved games that have found their way into the hearts of many family gamers.

Imagine, if you will, Apples to Apples® and Scattergories® get sloshed at an office holiday party and a series of unfortunate events lands them both inside the same dark supply closet filled with a suffocating aroma of industrial cleaners and mildewed mops and rags. The space is cramped and the air toxic, but for these two debauchery-fueled household names it’s intoxicatingly arousing. Nine months and several lawsuits later, a convent receives a knock at the door. The elderly, bent abbess slowly opens the door to find something unrecognizable, yet familiar, swaddled in a stale blanket. Though she’s never had children and doesn’t know the first thing about raising an infant, she believes hiding it in the catacombs and educating it by candlelit solitude will properly prepare it for an introduction to twenty-first century society upon reaching adulthood. So, with all the love and compassion any parent would have, she presents to the world one summer’s day her gruel-fed child dressed in potato sack burlap and bare feet. Encouraged to make its own way in the world, it’s placed on a bus headed for Wall Street. Upon arrival, the child yells to the Goldman Sachs building, “Which office is mine?” It’s mostly ignored, but a few suits look on in wonderment, baffled by the child’s tenacity and naivety. It’s then that a neighboring homeless man feels compassion for the child, pulls out a five-gallon bucket and piece of cardboard, and sets up a makeshift desk and chair. He folds a piece of paper to make a nameplate for the cardboard desk and asks, “What should I write.” The child responds, “Punderdome.” And that’s where, to this day, the child sits participating in the global market.

My wife loves puns. She intentionally uses them more than anyone I know, and it is for her that I got this game to review. She’s also much more concerned about others’ feelings than am I when it comes to my reviews. I remind her that they are reviews of things, not their authors, and that people should have access to real, honest, and raw perspectives to help them in their potential purchasing decisions. (If you’re new to reading my reviews, there’s your heads-up on what to expect.) Still, she’d rather I not publish my little story above because it may hurt the comedians’ feelings. (Yup, you read that correctly.) However, upon reading the game’s play examples, she exclaimed, “These aren’t puns! … These aren’t even funny!” Exactly. The “punniest” person I know doesn’t even like the well thought out examples used to entice one to play the game. (Okay, she said two of them were clever even if not funny, but that she couldn’t take a whole game of them. She reminded me of this when I read this paragraph to her. See? More compassion.)

Please. Just say no. Friends don’t let friends play Punderdome®.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Book Reviews, Theology

Book Review: Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels, by Kenneth E. Bailey

August 18, 2016 durough Leave a comment

Kenneth E. Bailey’s Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels is a treasure trove of cultural insights on the life and teachings of Jesus the Christ. Bailey pulls together writings, traditions, and perspectives both ancient and contemporary to help us better understand Scripture. Though it is written more for the academic, I would recommend this to anyone wanting a deeper understanding of Scripture. He writes that neither separating “the exact words of Jesus from the careful editing of the Gospel authors” nor authoring a “full-fledged technical commentary” are purposes of this book (20); rather, “My intent is to contribute new perspectives from the Eastern tradition that have rarely, if ever, been considered outside the Arabic-speaking Christian world” (21).

The book is presented in six parts, each worth the reader’s time and energy:

The Birth of Jesus
The Beatitudes
The Lord’s Prayer
Dramatic Actions of Jesus
Jesus and Women
Parables of Jesus

Most people I know read the Bible solely from a Western tradition and perspective heavily influenced by the Enlightenment period, completely unaware of over a millennium’s worth of culture and writings predating those views that have been virtually ignored, often intentionally. Many thanks to Bailey for making some of this more accessible and bringing these things to light.

Book Reviews, Theology

Book Review: What Christians Ought to Believe: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine Through the Apostle’s Creed, by Michael F. Bird

August 13, 2016 durough Leave a comment

Michael F. Bird’s What Christians Ought to Believe: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine Through the Apostle’s Creed attempts to convince college students (the intended primary audience) of the author’s belief in the necessity of creeds and then presents his own theology through the skeleton of what is widely known as the Apostle’s Creed. Using circular arguments, Bird fails to convince of its necessity, though there is a positive argument of a creed’s potential usefulness. Though Bird says he’s unpacking the theology of the Apostle’s Creed, he fails to present the theological history and politics that went into the establishment of this and comparable creeds that promote division within a desire for unity. What he actually does is unpack his own theology from a modern perspective that can be seen in lengthier and more specific creeds in contrast to the simpler and more universally accepted Apostle’s Creed; thus, this is not an honest approach to the creed at hand and probably should not be used in courses including the subject.

Though we have different approaches to creedal theology and disagree on a number of potentially significant fronts, there are a few subsections of chapters that I found to be helpful for any reader. Among them: How Creeds Can Invigorate Your Faith (in Ch. 2), The Lord Jesus (in Ch. 6), Why the Virgin Birth? (in Ch.7), The Foolishness of the Cross (in Ch. 8), and When Did You Get Saved? (in Ch.14).

In my opinion, it isn’t worth adding to a syllabus and requiring students to purchase and read it. For those who disagree, in addition to this text, there are resources available for both instructors and students with Zondervan Academic accounts.

Book Reviews, Life

Book Review: Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations (2016 edition), by Alex & Brett Harris

July 29, 2016 durough Leave a comment

I’ll be honest. While looking for a new book to review, I saw “Foreword by Chuck Norris” on the front cover of Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations by Alex & Brett Harris, so I had to request it. I don’t have a Total Gym^®, so why not a book promoted by the roundhouse-loving Texas Ranger? I didn’t know anything about the book or the Harris brothers, but too many legendary Chuck Norris jokes were running through my head to keep my choice rational. I don’t know why I expected something more from a foreword—I do know…because it’s Chuck Norris—but the two-page intro pretty much said, “I know these kids. They’re cool. Do hard stuff. *roundhouse to the face*” Okay, so there was no kicking involved (would have been a cool flip-book animation to add to the corners of the book’s pages), but that would’ve made it better. But really, this has nothing to do with the book, so on to it.

This is the second reprint of a 2008 book written by a couple Christian teenage brothers (to Christians, but not just for Christians) who hate the word “teenager,” desire us to drop that idea from our culture, and get kids to grow up and do more. That’s cool, and I’m on board with discontinuing adolescence into our 30s in the US. However, I would encourage young folk to think more about their choices than do the authors who chastise people who discovered they were going to help a different political campaign than the one for which they signed up. Running a political campaign may be a “hard thing,” but we should think about whether or not we believe in the hard things we’re attempting. This is just one example of many, but indicative of the easily misguided nature of youth, even when they’re gung-ho about taking on challenges and doing more.

I don’t think the authors make the best of connections with Scripture and their examples, but they are (were) teenagers running with their upbringing and not so much wrestling with the real context of Scripture. These guys do want us to glorify God in all we do, and to that end I think they encourage the reader well.

In this third edition only a few stories have been added in an appendix. The brothers have not changed the original text at all, which they think is a good thing. It still reads like it’s written by teenagers, so if that’s desired, then I guess it’s a good thing. I probably would have updated it a bit and taken more care with all the non-profit organization examples that don’t really consider economic and social implications but focus more on how good the ones working in it feel when “helping” others. (I recommend When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor…and Yourself for those interested in non-profits and foreign aid.)

Alex’s gospel message in “Appendix A” is overly simplistic and lacking important points, but it simply stems from his faith tradition, which is expected. Again, something I would have changed.

Overall, it may be inspiring for some youth (it obviously has been for eight years), but the stories and examples may prove tedious and longwinded for some. I would have put it down after Part 1 of 3 if I’d not been committed to reviewing it.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Book Reviews, Food, Theology

Book Review: Vegangelical: How Caring for Animals Can Shape Your Faith, by Sarah Withrow King

June 19, 2016 durough Leave a comment

First, let me offer a little autobiographical information. I love animals—I love all of creation. All I wanted to do up until I was sixteen years old was to be a zoologist and promote healthy, environmental living. My life direction changed, but my passions didn’t. I was president of the Alabama Animal Rights Fellowship (AARF—ha!) at the University of Alabama, attended a nationwide animal rights convention in Washington, D.C., and marched in protest of animal cruelty. I decided overnight to be vegan on February 22, 2002, and remained as such for five years. Many of my beliefs have not changed, nor my feelings on many related matters, but as I continue to grow and learn I want to be consistent in my life in service to God. I know what it’s like to be the only Christian vegan in a room of hundreds who hate religion. I’ve heard the arguments of vegans and non-vegans alike, many of which are emotion- and sensationalism-driven “facts” not primarily founded on careful consideration of many perspectives and bodies of evidence. I could probably affirm the decision of just about anyone to choose a vegan lifestyle, but I cannot affirm all reasoning. I made that decision based on a number of factors, so when people asked me why, I simply said, “Pick a reason; it’s probably in there.” Love, ethics, and economics played large parts in my decision, but not once did I use my Scripture references to say someone was sinning by eating animal flesh or wearing animal products and the like. Why? It can’t be found in Scripture. There is absolutely no Scriptural foundation upon which one may say not living a vegan lifestyle in all circumstances is a sin. However, Sarah Withrow King, in Vegangelical: How Caring for Animals Can Shape Your Faith, does just that with much hypocrisy, sensationalism, sloppy theology, and a lack of wisdom. This is typical “too little on too much in too few pages” pro-vegan literature.

King uses Scripture in reference to human interaction as equally applicable to animals. I can understand why someone would want to do that. Really, I can. But animals and humans aren’t the same. Humans were made as the image of God; animals were not. That is a distinction that ought not be overlooked. However, by using these Scriptures, King promotes equal treatment among all species—but really only the fuzzy, cuddly, charismatic kind in WWF magazines, domesticated pets, and farm animals with which we are all familiar; the cockroaches, earthworms, and beetles I think will not find so much compassion in the King household. She condemns those who engage in vivisection and mutilation, but both condones and encourages genital mutilation (spaying and neutering) of pets to keep their populations down and to euthanize them when they are too sick or in pain. So, do we harm or do we not? Do we say the same things about humans since we are equating them and using Scripture equally? Like Nazis much? “I see you have a bum leg, have cancer, and are suffering. I will hold you gently and love you as we put you out of your misery, [dog/cat/dad/child].” No, we are not equal, and Scripture ought not be so applied.

When she finally, at the end of the last chapter, asks herself the question about Jesus eating meat, she answers with the following: “I don’t know why Jesus ate fish…” (148) That’s it. No addressing of Jesus, the only perfect and sinless son of God sacrificed so that we may be redeemed, committing what King calls sin. If one is going to write a book about why it is sin for all people everywhere to be vegan because otherwise would be sin, one must have a thoroughly thought out and convincing argument regarding Jesus eating at least fish and the Passover lamb. But readers are left with a shrug and quick movement to, “Adopting a vegan diet and lifestyle is one of the easiest ways I have found to honor the gift of God’s creation and to follow the example of Jesus’ love for all” (149). That’s a great reason to make the vegan choice, and it’s part of why I was once vegan; but there’s a huge leap one must make from saying “I’m doing this to honor God” to “You’re sinning for not doing this!”

If I were to address every theological question, occasion of hypocrisy and sloppy research, this would get rather lengthy. This is emotion, emotion, emotion and data point, personal opinion, and “friend told me a story” information presented without discerning connectivity. So, for Christian readers (the intended audience), I hope the Jesus argument is enough to dissuade anyone from encouraging reading this book. There are many other works that are much more faithful to Scripture and reason that may prove beneficial. For larger works of a holistic Christian life that include creation care, I recommend Christopher J. H. Wright’s The Mission of God and The Mission of God’s People because they are two of my top recommendations you should have in your library anyway!

Book Reviews, Music

Book Review: With My Eyes Wide Open: Miracles & Mistakes On My Way Back to KoRn, by Brian “Head” Welch with Carol Traver

June 9, 2016 durough Leave a comment

Brian “Head” Welch was a founding member of the highly successful metal band KoRn back in 1993, but in 2005 he became a Christian, left the band, kicked his alcohol and drug addictions, and committed to being a better father to his young daughter. After swearing multiple times over the years never to return, With My Eyes Wide Open: Miracles & Mistakes On My Way Back to KoRn is the raw, tear-jerking story of a new Christian making poor decisions, going through the ups and downs of learning what it means to really follow God, experiencing tremendous pain with a depressed and self-abusive daughter, and eventually following the Spirit to family restoration and redemption, including the Spirit’s leading in restoration of his musical family. Welch now uses his influence and opportunities as a touring metal musician to bring others to Christ for God’s glory.

It may be difficult for some to accept Welch’s position, but a thorough reading of the book of Acts in the Bible shows us that the Spirit doesn’t work the same way for everyone and certainly doesn’t lead everyone down the same paths to God’s glory. We’re all in different places in life with different skills and talents, and God pulls and prods us along where he wants us to serve him. After many seeming coincidences, much prayer, and the spiritual discernment of several trusted people, Welch gave in to God’s call to return to KoRn…and it’s been wonderful.

If I had not been reading the book in public, I would have let the tears run at least four times. There’s so much pain, so many horrible decisions, and yet, God is good and draws Welch and his daughter in even closer. I would again caution (especially young) readers that the Spirit doesn’t necessarily follow any of our observable patterns, so take Welch’s final letter at the end with a grain of salt—don’t be discouraged if your life doesn’t turn out with same kinds of amazing blessings, as God doesn’t make any of those promises about this life. However, I think this would be a great read for metal heads—or anyone!

Art, Book Reviews

Book Review: Understanding Exposure (4th Edition): How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera, by Bryan Peterson

June 7, 2016 durough Leave a comment

Understanding Exposure (4^th Edition): How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera by Bryan Peterson aptly and engagingly unlocks the mysteries of what Peterson refers to as the photographic triangle (aperture, shutter speed, and ISO) in order to capture the correct exposure for any image. Multiple shots of the same scene are provided with specific settings in order to see the differences these can make as Peterson educates the reader. I’ve needed a book like this for a long time, and am glad it’s found a home in my library, sure to be referenced time and again. (I’ve not read any of the three previous editions, so I can’t speak to the updates in this one [there has been significant progress in the world of digital photography since the third edition, so it’s probably worth the update].)

His first piece of advice is to find the manual setting (as opposed to the myriad of automatic settings) on your camera, set it, leave it there, and then throw away the manual for the camera. Of course, most people buy cameras specifically for automatic settings, and Peterson explains why that’s (basically) stupid when it’s so easy to capture the desired image with a little bit of knowledge and practice. So, for those seriously interested in photography and taking great pictures, perhaps getting a camera sans auto settings would be the best route.

A few points I particularly appreciate:

A creatively correct exposure rather than just a correct exposure. Granted, this is going to be in the eye of the artist, but it helps to understand how to tweak the settings to the best among a number of potentially correct exposures.
Aperture can help tell a story with depth of focus.
Implied motion can be obtained through shutter speed.
Light meters assume 18% light reflectance, which can really be thrown off when trying to capture an image with stark contrasts between black and white, which reflect light very differently in the same shot.

I only have one real critique: Peterson downplays white balance, stating that he leaves his “set to Sunlight 99 percent of the time when shooting in natural light” because most of what he does is outdoors (p.19). This is fine, and what I will likely find myself doing, but those looking for some advice on more indoor shooting may find the book a bit lacking, although there are still some great tips.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Book Reviews, Food

Book Review: The Rooftop Growing Guide: How to Transform Your Roof Into a Vegetable Garden of Farm, by Annie Novak

May 20, 2016 durough Leave a comment

Wow. There is no simple, shortcut way to describe the wealth of information found in The Rooftop Garden: How to Transform Your Roof Into a Vegetable Garden or Farm by Annie Novak without creating an outline with a plethora of bullet points. Text, charts, diagrams, sketches, interviews, tips from other professionals…greenhouse, potted, and complete rooftop farming…construction, tools, legal & safety warnings, business tips…water, soil, seeds, pest control…and so, so much more! The photography is not only helpful, but also inspiring for a number of contexts—large-scale rooftop farms with serious soil depth to small potted spaces. Informative and easily navigable for when working on projects, The Rooftop Garden is useful as both an educational tool and reliable ongoing resource. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in using any existing space for some edible growth, but also for those who have space and haven’t even thought about it—the effort appears to be worth it on a number of fronts!

For my fellow Coloradans in the Denver-metro area with balconies and/or flat roofs not already covered in solar panels, this is definitely something to look into, pending any legislative barriers like our laws against collecting rainwater. Seriously, check it out!

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Book Reviews

Book Review: The Longing in Me: How Everything You Crave Leads to the Heart of God, by Sheila Walsh

May 20, 2016 durough Leave a comment

I picked up Sheila Walsh’s The Longing in Me: How Everything You Crave Leads to the Heart of God to add some diversity to my reading. Most Christian books by female authors are explicitly written for women, so I don’t pick them up. However, when the marketing material for this book mentioned nothing of the sort, I figured I’d check it out. I’d not heard of Walsh before this book, so I didn’t know what I was getting into. As with many others, this book written to and for women. (I do wish that had been made known.) That didn’t stop me from finishing it, but I’m certainly not the target audience.

The bulk of the book is Walsh’s story about leaving her ex-husband, later marrying another man, and then the problems they’ve had, and trying to connect her life’s desires with that of King David’s. I didn’t get how the subtitle (How Everything You Crave Leads to the Heart of God) fits with the way these stories are presented. There’s a lot of hopping around between stories and chronology with no real linear thought progression or development.

If you’d like to read about Walsh’s life mixed with a long and loose retelling of David’s story, then you might find this interesting. Some of the anecdotes may tug at your heartstrings, but I don’t think they’re worth the price of the book. This one’s definitely not a book for me.