Books: The Hawk and the Dove Trilogy

Well, here we are in the midst of moving chaos and I nearly forgot to write up this review for you of The Hawk and the Dove Trilogy by Penelope Wilcox. Kregel, who provided the copy, is so well-organized that I got (and read) these a month before the due date. These are available in a variety of formats, including a few third-party sources for an old single binding of all three volumes all the way through the e-book versions. I have a copy of each of the three books, though I’m going to reference them together.


Here are the three titles:

The Hawk and the Dove. This is the first book in the series, and introduces us to our main characters. We are introduced to the fourteenth-century world of the monastery and Father Peregrine. It’s a good read, and easily digested as a novel. One then comes back, though, and sees the beauty of the story of grace built in.





Book two, as you can see, is called The Wounds of God. This continues the saga of Father Peregrine and the monastery. This develops more of the background of the fourteenth century and provides additional insight into the challenges of days of religion mixed with state and every other aspect of life.

Book three is titled The Long Fall and deals with the after effects of Father Peregrine’s health failing him. One begins to see how grace and mercy interact with the changes that faltering health brings. This was a poignant read and one well worth the time.



For me, this batch of books was a pleasant diversion, showing beauty even in a chaotic world. I think they’re an excellent read for young or old.

Sermon Recap for May 24

Counting down, 1 more Sunday to go in Almyra. I will dearly miss being here. I also look forward to the challenges ahead.

It is somewhat appropriate that this sermon was focused on the Holy Spirit. One of my challenges in recent months has been remembering that I'm easily replaceable, but the Holy Spirit is not. As a pastor, I am both important AND disposable in the grand scheme of things.

Here's the sermon:

May 24, 2015 John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 (audio link)

I. On our own or in His power?

II. Not to draw attention to Himself....testify to Christ!

III. Righteous judgment comes via the Spirit.

IV. Sin, which the world denies, is still a problem. And there will be judgment

V. Christian maturity takes time--you are not instantly mature and wise

VI. The ongoing relationship with God is required for our growth. Through the Spirit we draw near.

VII. The Spirit does not draw us to Himself but to Christ!

Memorial Day 2015

We’ve reached Memorial Day weekend for 2015. While Memorial Day has only been a holiday for about half the history of this country, looking back we’ve had men and women dying for our freedom for 240 years at this point. (Lexington and Concord were in April, 1775.)

What is Memorial Day about? It is, quite frankly, about the dead. Not about the living—those who served and returned are our focus on Veteran’s Day. Those who are serving are the focus of Armed Forces Day.

Today is about those who never returned. The genesis of Memorial Day truly connects to that, as it started with Decoration Day in the cemeteries of the war dead after the Civil War. The graves of both sides were respected (in most cases) and this gave rise to a day honoring those who died for the freedoms of this nation.

The resulting day has also become symbolic of many other things, but we should keep sight of this reality:

We are not free in this country by accident nor simply by luck. Neither are we free from future threats to our liberty.

We are free because men and women have given their lives to establish and defend that freedom. We are free because there are families, parents and spouses, children and grandchildren, who have lost their loved ones for us.

We owe a debt that we should remain very mindful of.

A few thoughts on James 5

Last night for our Wednesday Bible Study at Almyra Baptist, we looked at James 5:16-18 and talked a bit about prayer and how our relationships affect our prayer lives. Here are some thoughts from that discussion:

First, James speaks of our need to "confess our sins to one another." For us to do this within the body of Christ, the Church, we need to address issues about confession.

1. We need to be confession accepting. What does that mean? It means that we are willing to listen and a trustworthy receptacle for confessions. How do you respond when someone presents you with their struggles?
1. Do you take it seriously? Just because it is not your load does not make it a lightweight issue. If we shame one another over sharing struggles and sins, then we are not really strengthening the family of faith through confession.
2. That is NOT a call to gloss over sin, though. Sin is sin, and confession of sin together should involve spurring each other to repentance. 
3. Do you take confession in confidence? Barring what should be obvious--the need to report child abuse and the need to address imminent danger to human life--a confession shared with you should go no further. That includes the gossip-prayer request ring that too often operates in our churches. No, you don't need to tell others "how to pray" for someone else as they struggle with their sins. Keep your curiosity to yourself.
4. This should not need repeated, but here: there are, or at least ought to be, two exceptions to your "keep it confident" viewpoint. The first is child abuse of all forms (physical, sexual, verbal). Report that according to your legal jurisdiction's requirements. Your first call is that number. ABSOLUTELY. And never to the accused to investigate it or warn them of it. The second is a little harder to give hard what-to-do, though 911 might be your best option. If there is an imminent threat to the life of another human being, you need to act. That includes reasonable threats of suicide.
2. We need to be confession entrusting. That requires us to entrust ourselves to others. You might feel that you cannot confess to those immediately around you because of leadership issues--if there is any validity to that concern, you must find someone else to confess with, and it should run both directions. Do not expect others to trust their vulnerable issues with you if you won't share yours with them.
3. As a side note, there are two major areas where we grow in our fellowship with one another:
1. Working together. People who labor together for a common cause strengthen their bond. Find good things to do and do them as a church, as a family, as a group. 
2. Sharing weaknesses together. That also draws us together, as we see that we need each other. Rarely are we drawn together by group bragging, but cooperatively overcoming weakness brings us together. 
4. From our relationships with each other, we are better able to pray for each other.
1. First, because our relationship with each other strengthens our relationship to God by being with his people. We are able to be honest.
2. As we focus on the body growing together, we draw nearer to understand the purpose God has called us to.

Now, there's one more thought on prayer I think we need to consider, and it comes from Elijah and his prayer that led to no rain. Consider this: here's a man so concerned for the eternal effects of Israel being in rebellion to God that he prays for no rain. It's an agricultural society, and yet Elijah prays that God be glorified in drought. 

The result? 3 and a half years of drought. Crop failures, hunger, struggle. Elijah has to flee. The people hate him. The king wants him dead. James, though, holds forth that the rain fled and returned by the power of God at the request of Elijah. 

Elijah chose instead to live with the consequences of his prayers. He accepted the problems that he would face as he prayed for God's will to be done. He recognized that Israel would drift from God if he faltered.

What of us? Do we break off praying when it gets a little harder to be us rather than when God's purposes are accomplished?

Books: The Knight of Eldaran Series

You may recall that I review a book called The Traitor’s Heir. You may not. It’s here if you’re interested.

I commented in that review that I looked forward to finishing the series, as The Traitor’s Heir was the first book of a trilogy. Further, in knowing that she was writing a trilogy, author Anna Thayer did not feel a compulsion to wrap up any loose ends in concluding the first book. It just left you hanging…

And so I waited patiently for books two and three. These are titled The King’s Hand and The Broken Blade, respectively. Worth noting is that these books absolutely depend on each other. Think “trilogy” like Lord of the Rings, not Star Wars. You can catch up if you just jump into The Empire Strikes Back, but you’re dead lost if you start off on The Two Towers.

Likewise here, don’t start on The King’s Hand unless you want to take a fantasy series and make it a mystery as well. I will address the collection and not each volume. Why? Because if you enjoy the first, you’ll want to read the second, then the third.

First, a recap: our hero is Eamon Goodman of the River Realm. It is a place where there is magic and wonder, worthy of being created by someone who is a scholar of Tolkien and Lewis. The River Realm sees people with mystical powers and a ruler who fights against rebels out to see him fall.

The first book established who the good guys and bad guys are, and gave us the convincing picture of Eamon Goodman as a conflicted individual. He is sworn to the King but works for the Master—and that willingly!

The second book begins to show the consequences of divided loyalties and playing both ends against the middle. The third finalizes the situation, showing the character of the King, the results for Eamon and the Master, and who finds true love in it all.

Overall, the plot is not overly complicated. Thayer has given it enough twists that you cannot help but wonder if it will work out properly, but you know in the back of your mind it has to! There is never really a point that you believe any individual is safe from death, and figuring which batches of true love will turn out is not a simple task.

Further, the characters are multi-dimensional. While the bad guys are clearly the bad guys, there is more to them than just “evil for fun.” You don’t root for them, but you do see their perspective. I just don’t like them. They are bad guys, after all.

The good guys are good but flawed, very much like ordinary folks caught in the midst of crisis. Their plans are not perfect, the results not always as desired. It’s a world where good wins out over evil, but not without cost.

All in all, a great batch of reads. Thayer explains her world well and makes you glad to visit it. I gladly recommend the entire Knight of Eldaran series.

Trouble's Coming: 1 Peter 4

In Summary:

Peter continues with his direct style in 1 Peter 4. I’ve found that it’s actually hard to preach some of these verses, because there is nothing else to say about them. Take 1 Peter 4:9 as an example. Go on, read it. Now, try to figure a way to expound on that for half an hour.

It’s not easy. In fact, it can be done in a few short sentences: be hospitable, welcoming, not dwelling on the faults or problems of others, to the family of faith. And do it without whining about it. End of story. Get to work.

The rest of the chapter may need a bit more explanation, like how “love covers a multitude of sins” but that our own love doesn’t cover enough. It takes the love of Christ, acted on at the Cross.

Further, Peter is straightforward that the Christian is not to live according to the moral foundations (or lack thereof) common to pagans. He is not one for nuance or sensitivity here. Perhaps his own experience showed that some weaknesses should be addressed by challenging them, not coddling them.

In Focus:

Let us put 1 Peter 4:12-17 in focus. Here, Peter warns that trouble will be coming for the people of God. This, even after telling them 3:13 that there should be no one to harm them for doing good. The trouble will not be light and fluffy either. Peter expresses that it will be a fiery ordeal.

And that it comes “for your testing.” This contrasts the ordeal of the believers with the trouble that falls on criminals. Further, apparently not everyone in the church was truly on the up and up. Peter warns them not to be counted a murderer, thief, evildoer, or troublesome meddler.

The question for the church was this, “Would you rather be blessed for being reviled for Christ, or be comfortable?” Peter warns them to take heed of the issue.

In Practice:

In practice, the Universal Church (all the redeemed of all the ages) has never seen a time without fiery ordeals. There have been seasons and locations of ease, like many years in the United States have been, but always there have been members of the family of faith who could not lightly hold their confession. As those seasons and locations of safety shift, it is worth asking ourselves the same question: Would you rather be blessed for being reviled for Christ, or be comfortable?

You see, a comfortable church does not always shake the world as we ought to. Once we start trying to make peace with the world that we are supposed to be “alien” from, we start sliding away from our home country. It is simply not possible to be at peace with a world that lives as enemies of Christ. Now, there is no reason for us to be the riff-raff of this world. Just like those movie villains who think their “diplomatic immunity” allows them to be criminals without consequence, so we must acknowledge that consequences come from breaking the laws that are against evil, and we have no place to complain of those.

And the troubles that come for being Christians? (Peter is the only New Testament writer to refer to the church as “Christians.” Luke records that others refer to the church as Christians in Acts.) That trouble is coming, and will purify the church. It is part of the judgment of God that clears out those who do not truly belong in the family of faith.

Is it comfortable? No. It should not be, because our hope is not for a smooth life here but for a life that glorifies God for eternity.

In Nerdiness: 

A few quick points: 4:17 echoes Ezekiel and Malachi’s warning that God will judge the priests first for misleading the people. Given Peter’s view of all the believers as a kingdom of priests, we should understand this as referring to the need for a church that walks as purely after Christ as possible.

4:18 echoes Proverbs 11:31. And note that throughout, Peter is still more focused on encouraging and challenging the church to be like Jesus and fulfill His call than he is on helping them avoid trouble.

Sermon Recap for May 17

It's hard to preach when there's potluck food aroma wafting down the hallway!

Morning Sermon: Luke 24/Acts 1 (direct audio link)

Evening Sermon: Revelation 4 (direct audio link)

Concluding Notes:

1. I do have the rough audio of Sunday Night’s Q&A session, but I’m not sure yet that it’s useful for posting.

2. I am not sure how to improve video quality with the current equipment.

3. If you want to subscribe, here’s a list:

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