faithAlivebooks

At Break of Day

This picture book’s strength is “derived from the artful combination of gentle, lilting prose and the beautifully textured and rich illustrations”. Rather than that using a simple rhyme for children, Nikki Grimes makes “great use of alliteration and gently rhythmic language”. Furthermore, Grimes does an excellent job of using a playful and loving relationship between father and son in this creation story to give us the combined imagery of Genesis 1 and John 1.

Reviewed by Lee Nagel, Executive Director of the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership.

Book of the Week for January 22, 2012

Amazon

Death of Josseline by Margaret Regan

In the Death of Josseline: Immigration Stories from the Arizona Borderlands, Margaret Regan has masterfully blended the intense, political debate of immigration reform with the moral struggles of real people, who are taking the risks of crossing the Arizona border. This makes for a very interesting and compelling read.  

With each testimony Regan shows how this migration dramatically impacts families, reaching miles away from the Arizona border - from the jungles of Central America to communities throughout the United States.  

Regan has a very good handle on both U.S. immigration law and economic policy as it relates to this region.  She accurately portrays how recent changes in law and policies have created a truly, moral dilemma that exists now in our country.  

This well-crafted book expands our knowledge on this topic while at the same time makes us reflect deeply on your moral beliefs.  Her journalistic talents provide a full picture of the problem without imposing her opinions.  

Death of Josseline is a fabulous resource for a book group, workshop or bible study on the immigration topic.

 

Reviewed by Laura Rampersad, Regional Coordinator for Justice for Our Neighbors-West Michigan

Amazon

Book of the week for October 9, 2011

Between Allah & Jesus by Peter Kreeft

I recently read Between Allah & Jesus:What Christians Can Learn from Muslims on my interfaith/intercultural trip to Turkey. It greatly enriched my experience of the predominantly Muslim country, and I highly recommend this short, quick, and easy read. Don't be fooled, though - this Calvin College alum and Boston College prof is known for his stimulating and challenging work.

Review:

Based on his personal experiences as a professor of philosophy at Boston College, Peter Kreeft crafts fictional characters and conversations about today’s moral, ethical, and religious issues.  His protagonist is a young Muslim American student who engages in challenging dialogue with a liberal Christian, a Calvinist Christian, and two Catholic Christians.

The exchanges are challenging as Kreeft gives insight into the Muslim faith and how one young Muslim lives his faith daily. Kreeft’s work is primarily aimed at Christians (hence the title) and encourages us as Christians, and particularly Catholics, to live more deeply our call to the authentically Christian life.

Between Allah & Jesus not only highlights where Christians and Muslims can agree and work together, but also clarifies and confronts the unchanging differences between the two great faiths, in an honest and fruitful way. It’s a fantastic read for Christians, Muslims, and anyone interested in engaging in a serious and meaningful interfaith dialogue.

Review by Whitney Belprez, Program Manager, Kaufman Interfaith Institute at Grand Valley State University (GVSU).

Peter Kreeft's Website

Whitney Belprez's Blog Post

InterVarsity Press

Amazon

 

Book of the Week for September 25, 2011

Adventures in Daily Prayer by Bert Ghezzi

"At the risk of seeming to have engaged in an extravagant statement, I still venture to say that not one of us presently writing about religion in this country is better equipped by experience, skill, and devotion to write about prayer than is Bert Ghezzi. He lives what he speaks, and he speaks what he lives very, very well."--Phyllis Tickle, author of Prayer Is a Place and The Great Emergence

Baker Books

Amazon

Book of the Week for September 18, 2011

Simple Ways by Gunilla Norris

Bluebridge Publishing

Amazon

Book of the week for September 11, 2011