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Conference yukon::christian_v7

Title:The CHRISTIAN Notesfile
Notice:Jesus reigns! - Intros: note 4; Praise: note 165
Moderator:ICTHUS::YUILLEON
Created:Tue Feb 16 1993
Last Modified:Fri May 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:962
Total number of notes:42902

633.0. "Good Reading" by POWDML::NOURSE () Fri Nov 18 1994 08:01

    Good Morning,
    
    As some of you know, I am usually a read only but I found a few minutes
    and thought I would jump in.
    
    I don't know if this has been brought up anywhere else but I was
    wondering if anyone could recommend any good books. I went to the
    library with my son and husband a couple of week ago, and took out a
    book that I thought (from reading the back) was going to be easy
    reading, mild subject etc... I read about four pages and could not
    believe the language, violence and graphic descriptions. This is
    supposed to be a best seller. I thought I would start reading more
    instead of watching TV. I think about the only books that are safe to
    read are from a Christian book store.
    
    I also read through the books my son had selected from the library and
    put two of them back. My opinion is that they were not appropriate for
    a six year old. 
    
    I have been told by my piers at work that I am naive (sp?) and old
    fashioned because I don't watch and read the latest and greatest on the
    market. I choose only to read and watch what would be appropriate in
    God's eyes not everyone else's.
    
    Anyway, I have just finished a book titled The Final Hour, that
    discusses "end times". I was excellent. I purchased it at Boucher's
    Catholic Book store. The priest at my church recommended it.
    It does lean towards Catholic beliefs, however, it discusses the world
    today and how people are turning to materialistic and not having Jesus
    in their life. It goes into a great deal about abortion (murder) of
    millions of babys, TV, cults that are being formed, diseases etc. It
    really made me think what kind of a world we live in and sometimes how
    easy it can be to get caught up in some of these things.
    
    Does anyone have any thoughts or comments? Well its been nice to jump
    in.
    
    Terri
    
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633.143755::YUILLEThou God seest meFri Nov 18 1994 09:1632
Hi Terri!  Welcome in again... ;-)

�    I have been told by my piers at work that I am naive (sp?) and old
�    fashioned because I don't watch and read the latest and greatest on the
�    market. I choose only to read and watch what would be appropriate in
�    God's eyes not everyone else's.

Well done, Terri.  Just because the world chooses to spread its corruption 
around, doesn't mean that we have to follow like sheep!

  "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, 
   whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or 
   praiseworthy - think about such things.
						Philippians 4:8

If your workmates choose to expose their minds to the rubbish that is
published in the world, their awareness of what is right and wrong, and
their resistance to evil will be gradually eroded.  Evil will lose its 
power to shock, not because it is less evil, but because they are more 
evil.  Only it happens too gradually for them to realise...

�    Anyway, I have just finished a book titled The Final Hour, that
�    discusses "end times". I was excellent. I purchased it at Boucher's

That sort of emphasis is going to heighten your awareness of the very 
things your colleagues are getting numb to - the present increasing 
corruption of the world.

Controlling what goes into the mind can be a tough job these days!

							God bless
								Andrew
633.2Go by author alsoMIMS::GULICK_LWhen the impossible is eliminated...Fri Nov 18 1994 09:5329
Hi Terri,

I certainly agree with Andrew:

>Controlling what goes into the mind can be a tough job these days!

And you came to the right place for help.  I've been naive that way
practically my whole life.  Anyway, the first rule is to avoid the
best sellers of fiction.  Many of the authors might tel you that
themselves, in that they include some things only because publishers
require it.

Your best bet is to go with books published before about 1965.  They
are still worth reading for lots of reasons.  My personal favorite is
Victorian literature, and NOT because there is any sexual repression
exhibited.  There is plenty of excellent romance content as the Lord
intended.

Now for specifics:

	The "Bounty" trilogy by Nordoff and Hall
	_Born Again_ by Chuck Colson is terrific
	_The Iron Mistress_ by Paul I. Wellman
	Anything by Erle Stanley Gardner
	
More later.

Lew
633.3CSLALL::HENDERSONDig a little deeperFri Nov 18 1994 10:0117


 My friend Ron, who is blind, subscribes to a club that provides books
 on tape for the blind..he tells me that most of what is sent him is full
 of obscenities and sexual situations..downright pornographic in some cases.
 He's ending his relationship with this company.

 One can't turn to books these days (outside of Christian material) or turn
 on TV or see a movie without encountering this stuff.  I was watching a movie
 on TV with my son last week and I was shocked at the language which is now
 "acceptable"..




Jim
633.4COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertFri Nov 18 1994 10:1851
A review of "The Cruelty of Heresy" by The Rt. Rev. C. FitzSimons Allison

One of the finest gifts a person can give is the reference to a good
book.  Some weeks back /john suggested to me *The Cruelty of Heresy* by
Christopher FitzSimons Allison, former Bishop of South Carolina, as a
book to look at.  Thank you /john. 

A sculpture is formed by chipping away piece after piece of raw material
until the vision of the creator assumes its 4 dimensional shape and
context.  Does Christian orthodoxy establish in a similar way? The
richness of what orthodoxy actually is has had a colourful history
beginning with the words of Scripture as Word.  Interpretation of the
Word has removed the heresies like scattered chips to provide the
boundary of shape to the truth within.  But here the analogy ends. 
Heresies are not neutral and they are not insignificant; they are cruel
and they lead to the antithesis of the purpose of the Cross and the
Resurrection. 

Bishop Allison in *The Cruelty of Heresy* has established a clear and
very positive affirmation of Christian orthodoxy by a process similar to
that apophatic way known to Orthodox Christians: that which is not
elucidates that which is.  C.  S.  Lewis has elucidated the meaning of
orthodox Christianity so clearly to the common person.  G.  K. 
Chesterton in his *Orthodoxy* has, in exquisitely delightful English,
offered the romance of his faith for all who would care to participate
in that abundance.  Now we have an equally clear and compelling account
of the motives of the creeds and the positive statements of the orthodox
faith as boundaries beyond which heresy must not transgress.  These are
the declarations of faith that provide the very foundation for the
expressions and concerns for living found in Lewis and Chesterton. 
Indeed, Bishop Allison has provided his own examples of how the
abundance of the orthodox faith finds expression in the real world. 
Obviously, Bishop Allison has had a very close and meaningful
relationship with those of his flock.  He knows his sheep.  And he knows
the Center of our orthodox faith as that intersection of time and
eternity: the Cross and the Resurrection. 

"A heart without rectitude will betray orthodoxy by tone and spirit even
if it is correct teaching.  The heart's temptation to escape the
ambiguities and problems of life and to establish its own self as center
always contributes to any distortion of the gospel.  The heart itself
must bow in continual worship before God, whose name is Father, Son and
Holy Spirit, to be saved from its escape into death and from its prison
of self-centeredness."

*The Cruelty of Heresy* is an indispensable addition to that part of
your library where working references like dictionaries are kept.  For
now, I keep mine in my briefcase.  Christmas is around the corner and I
can imagine that St. Nicholas will have many on board. 

Christopher Morbey
633.5Bodie ThoeneTOKNOW::METCALFEEschew Obfuscatory MonikersFri Nov 18 1994 12:5922
There are three series by Bodie Thoene (pronounced TAY-nee).

My wife LOVES them and will buy anything by Bodie Thoene now.

I haven't read them, but she's passed them around at church and
her friends have each glowed about them.

Let's see (someone can correct me).

The Zion Chronicles (6 book series)
The Zion Covenant (6 book series)
The Shiloh [something] (3 book series, I think)

From what I am told, they are un-put-down-able.

Now, I know she wrote Chronicles or Covenant one before the other, 
but the later series actually dovetails into the earlier series,
historically speaking; it is fiction based on historical events.

Bodie Thoene is prominently displayed in any Christian bookstore.

Mark
633.6More on Bodie Thoene booksODIXIE::HUNTFri Nov 18 1994 13:2532
    Re .5
    
    I've read all of them and they are EXCELLENT!  She's got a brand new
    book out called "Twilight of Courage".
    
    They are all fictional novels, but bring historical characters and fact
    into the story.  I learned tons about WWII and the founding of the
    nation of Israel through them.
    
    The first series "Zion Covenant" (I believe) is set around the events
    during the establishment of Israel as a nation (post WWII).
    
    The second series "Zion Chronicals" (?) is set around the events
    leading up to WWII.
    
    The "Shiloh Legacy" is post WWI.
    
    The Twilight of Courage picks up where the second series leaves off
    (during WWII).
    
    The characters in Mrs. Thoene's books (her husband Brock contributes to
    them as well) come alive.
    
    A lot of women in our church have read these books, but not many men. 
    I can't figure out why.  They are filled with action and suspense, and
    as I mentioned earlier--history.  I highly recommend these books.  I
    can't wait until the sequel to "Twilight of Courage" comes out (it
    wasn't stated that there would be one, but the book didn't neatly wrap
    up).  I guess I'll HAVE to wait though :@(
    
    
    Bing
633.7DV780::ARAGONSinging a New SongFri Nov 18 1994 14:418
    Do any of you have any good books that I can use in teaching my daughter
    about the changes that she will be experiencing in the next couple of 
    years as she blossoms into a woman from a little girl.  She's 9 years old 
    now, and I've had the "birds and the bees" talk with her, but all the 
    books I have don't approach the issue from a Biblical or spiritual aspect.
    
    
    ...Kathy
633.8CSC32::P_SOGet those shoes off your head!Fri Nov 18 1994 14:487
    Kathy,
    
    Judy Blume has a book called,"Are you there God?  It's me, Margaret"
    It is not a christian book but I remember when I was growing up
    all the girls read it.
    
    Pam
633.9TOKNOW::METCALFEEschew Obfuscatory MonikersFri Nov 18 1994 15:336
> I can't wait until the sequel to "Twilight of Courage" comes out

My wife was so taken with the author that she ordered this one before
it was finished as part of a few who got autographed copies.

Mark
633.10A good sourceSIERAS::MCCLUSKYFri Nov 18 1994 19:112
    Check with Focus on the Family - can't give you the titles off hand,
    but they have some excellent reference materials.