Amber Wilkins

Clear, Concise, Insightful

Revisado: 12-03-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

God Is a Man of War by Fr. Stephen De Young has the potential to be a very influential book. In this book, the author addresses many of the parts of the Bible that seem problematic from a modern viewpoint. Things such as the story of God sending bears to kill “little children” (KJV translation) who mocked Elisha, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the numerous violent battles detailed in the Bible, etc. These stories have always left me confused and unsettled, but I have never come across a source that explained them properly until now. Fr. Stephen De Young adeptly addresses these biblical moments and explains the context in which they were written. More importantly, he explains how these stories fit into the broader narrative of the Bible and God’s plan for our salvation. There are so many things he addresses that have bothered me in my past readings of the Bible that I did not have the tools to unpack. I genuinely believe this book will help me on my spiritual journey as it has removed some of the questions that blocked me from a fuller understanding of the Bible.

I do not have the credentials to speak on the research that went into this book, but the text is both engaging and accessible for those outside of academic circles. I would like to see some academic reviews from people with appropriate credentials on Fr. Stephen De Young’s work be made readily available. It is evident that his work took a lot of study and careful thought. The topics he covers could bring a lot of needed understanding into Christians’ biblical study. This significance makes it all the more important that his researched work has been properly vetted. That being said, everything I have heard about his work has been praise, and I believe that I will be referring to this book many times in the future. I have already recommended this book to several close friends, and I would recommend that you read it as well!

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Perspective Shifting but not Perfect

Revisado: 07-23-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

“Religion of the Apostles: Orthodox Christianity in the First Century” by Fr. Stephen De Young was an eye-opening read that I am sure I will refer to many times in the future. The author is well respected in the Orthodox Christian community, and I’ve heard his work referenced quite a few times in my studies over the past couple of years. He does great work educating readers/listeners of his blog and podcasts on scripture that has become obscure the further we get from the time they were written. This book continues that tradition and enlightened me on aspects of early Christianity (and some of the Old Testament) that always puzzled me. His work creates a more full picture of what it means and has always meant to be a follower of Jesus. Overall, I am glad I read the book.
Although I did enjoy the book, I am not sure it perfectly accomplished what it set out to do. From my understanding, this book was meant to be a book that could take more academic topics about the beginnings of Christianity and make them more accessible to non-academics. In some sections, I feel like this goal is accomplished. My understanding overall of early Christian thinking is much more informed than it once was. On the other hand, there are parts in which the author does not seem to find this balance. There are sections that are both too detailed for the average reader and not detailed or have enough citations for the academic. By staying in the middle ground, perhaps this information was not presented to its greatest advantage. Either way, the subject matter of this book is very interesting, and I am sure will be much discussed in the years to come.
Another note I have is not a critique of the book itself but a warning for potential readers. There are some topics (such as discussion of Nephilim) that were very new for me. My religious background before I entered the Orthodox church tended toward fundamentalist thinking that was both confusing and detrimental to my faith. I am not by any means saying that this book promotes that sort of thinking! I will say that aspects of it could be manipulated or misinterpreted by those that already have a tendency towards thinking that way already. Especially if they don’t read the whole book carefully. There were several moments when I had to take a step back from the book to properly absorb the information I had just heard and discuss it with someone more knowledgeable than myself. Much of the information in this book is absolutely beneficial for all Orthodox Christians to better understand Christianity. Some of the information people may not be ready for or should approach with guidance. This is of course left to each individual and their spiritual father or mentors.
Yet again, let me reiterate how informative this book was for me. It will take a long time before I am able to fully process it all. I absolutely recommend it to those who are ready for it!

****One more side note about the audible version. I noticed that some of the sound production was a little strange. For example, the separate addition of the “end quote” audio that was clearly recorded at a different time. The audible was not terrible to listen to, but I just overall got the impression that the work was rushed.

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Will Read Again

Revisado: 06-11-21

“When You Pray: A Practical Guide to an Orthodox Life of Prayer” by L. Joseph Letendre is exactly what it claims to be. There is no pretense. It isn’t even very long. The audible edition is only 1 hr and 11 minutes and easy to work through in a busy schedule. This book gives the very basics of what prayer should be with examples to support it and then leaves the reader to sort out the rest. The author seems aware that prayer is not something that can be learned completely from a book, but tools on how to begin the process can be articulated in this form. This book communicates those tools splendidly. The rest is left up to practice, discussion with trusted spiritual mentors, and the grace of God.
My one critique is that the audiobook could be more vocally engaging. The information is excellent, but the reading lacks inflection to keep the listener’s focus.

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Insightful and Humbling

Revisado: 04-15-21

Of Such is the Kingdom: A Practical Theology of Disability by Summer Kinard is an excellent resource on how to not only be more understanding toward those with disabilities but also, on how to create an environment where those vital members can participate fully in the church life.
It is a difficult subject that is neglected in many spheres of life. How do we accommodate those whose experiences are different and we don’t understand? It is often not convenient and takes practice, but it is essential to create a full community. This book makes it clear that no person should be left out of a community when there are actions others can take to incorporate them in. It benefits everyone when members with disabilities are in the community.
Also, this book has good information on how humans (particularly children) best learn and interact. There are little things we can do to better engage ourselves and others in the faith. One section I know I will find particularly useful was on prayer practices.
Personally, now that I have listened to the audiobook I will buy a physical copy that I can refer to when needed. Audiobooks are great ways to make books more accessible, but there is enough useful information in this book that I know having a physical copy will make it easier to find again. The recording quality is good overall, but there is an occasional faint high-pitched sound that I could hear when listening in my car.
Overall, this book effectively tackles the difficult and important subject of disability in church life. It is truly humbling to see the shortfalls that are often present and we could all work toward moving past. There are many other discussions that need to be had on how to invite people in who may have difficulties incorporating into a church community, and this is an excellent start.

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Body and Soul

Revisado: 10-15-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Angela Doll Carlson’s book, Garden in the East, isn’t a fitness guide or a recipe book on how to stay healthy. It doesn’t provide answers on how to make our bodies behave or look the way we want them to. And it never promises to be. In fact, it is this sort of way of thinking about our body that it challenges. It discusses through beautiful and often poetic language how we must get away from thinking of our bodies as mechanical as if we only need to tune them up a bit, and all will be well. Instead, we are challenged to orient how we view our bodies by comparing it to the natural rhythms of a garden. The change of seasons, the result of neglect, the sometimes unruliness of being creatures of body and soul. I am grateful for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.
That being said, there were some sections I related to more than others. I am not in the same season as the author was when she wrote it. I definitely benefitted from some widening of perspective, but it is important to note that this book is very much written based on ponderings from the author’s own life. It is clear that her experiences influence how she learns, and those stories are woven throughout the book with her thoughts and practical inspiration. This gives it a deep, personal touch. There is nothing that she writes about that she has not struggled with herself, and she does her best to lead us to the truths that gave her peace.
I listened to the audiobook, and Angela Doll Carlson narrates the book herself. I found her voice created a calm, inviting atmosphere to dive deeper into a difficult topic. Technically, the sound quality is good except, when listening to it from my phone speaker in my car, I would occasionally hear a very faint high-pitched sound in the background.
Overall, I would recommend this book to others, especially those who struggle with body image issues. It provides a starting point for a healthier relationship with our physical nature and encourages acceptance of it as a partner to our spiritual nature. There is still much work to be done, but this book is a beautiful signpost along the way.

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