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Welcome
to Books For View,
the new quarterly sampling of what United Methodists in the
Stevens Point area are reading.
These titles are available
to check out at our church libraries or reading carts.
Methodist founder John Wesley was a prolific
reader, and if he had any possession in access, it was the books
in his library. He believed fiercely in the power of reading,
especially the Bible and faithful writings, to deepen our
understanding of Christ and mature our faith in God. It was
second only to prayer as spiritual exercise. He wrote a young
preacher: "What
has exceedingly hurt you in time past, nay, and I fear to this
day, is want of reading...You can never be a deep preacher
without it, any more than a thorough Christian… Do justice to
your own soul; give it time and means to grow. Do not starve
yourself any longer. "
Visit our church library soon. Let me know
what you are reading and how it helps you think and feeds your
soul. And remember books are good Christmas gifts!
Dee
Webber, Books for View Editor
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Settling In: My First
Year in a Retirement Community by Richard Morgan. A
retired pastor Richard Morgan and his wife make a year long
decision to leave their North Carolina home of fifty years. They
opt for a retirement community in Pennsylvania near their
daughter and her family. Morgans’ journal and scriptural
references describe the joys and struggles in making this
transition. Large print, 187 pp.
Summary: Joanne
Young, Church Library Asst.
(RC)
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Play With Me: Two
Friends on a Spiritual Journey with Kids. Authors Sally
Miller and Mueller, using journal entries, poetry and recipes,
share their view of how women can connect to God and one another
during child rearing years. This is a good book for discussion
among young mothers and/or persons caring for young children. Summary:
Joanne Young, Church Library Asst.
(RC)
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I Wish I Knew What to
Do: On What to Say to get Bullies to Leave You Alone!
Edited by Beth Carls and others, teens share their stories on
being a bully, experiencing bullies and how to deal with a
bully. This is a “Teens tell it like it is” series book. Summary:
Joanne Young, Church Library Asst.
(RC)
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Three Cups of Tea After failure to
reach the summit of K2 in the Karakoram Mountains of
Pakistan, author Greg Mortenson is lost and stumbles into
a poor village. Nourished by the people of Korphe, he promises
to return and to repay them in some way. This is a true story of
one man’s personnel struggle to fulfill his mission. He
experiences many failures before the reality of his passion
comes to life—a school for the girls of Korphe. It is to be
the first of fifty in that country. Mortenson travels halfway
around the world to show the Muslim children the light and power
of education. Quoted one village leader, “I request America to
look into our hearts and see that the great majority of us are
not terrorists, but good and simple
people.” This is a book of what can be accomplished in
faith by the human spirit. Review
by Bonnie Lund
(RC)
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They Take Our Jobs by Aviva Chomsky. The author has written a seemingly factual
and accurate book about twenty-one immigration myths, including
the familiar one she chose as her title. Chomsky takes the list
of twenty-one and tries to give the history and reality of each,
the changes that have occurred and how it differs for different
races or “citizens.” I found it informative, provocative,
and challenging with the biggest myth being that nothing can be
done. We should be informed and inform others. Read!
Review by Marge Rice (RC)
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1-2-3 Magic for
Christian Parents by Thomas W. Phelan, Ph.D. and Chris
Webb, M.S., M.A. This book offers practical, biblical based
instruction on how to deal with “obnoxious” behaviors in
children ages 2-12. There are also effective methods given to
encourage positive behaviors.
The book itself is an easy read and is straightforward in
its approach to discipline. The members of Moms In Sync
unanimously recommend the book.
Reviewed by Lori Cowling for Moms in Sync
(AL and CL)
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God Called a Girl: How
Mary Changed Her World and You Can Too.
169 pp. New
to St. Paul's library. Shannon Kubiak, motivational speaker and
author, writes imaginatively how Mary, mother of Jesus, might
have reacted to God's call to be the "favored and blessed
one". With Mary's story from the Gospels and the author's
own personal stories, young girls are challenged to become aware
of God's call to be "world changers". This young adult
selection, from the 2007 UMW reading list, can provide a
springboard for discussions with teens.
Summary by Carol Kerske, Adult Librarian
(AL)
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Parents &
Grandparents as Spiritual Guides: Nurturing Children of the
Promise. 155 pp. Christian educator Betty S. Cloyd
reminds parents that they need to work together with the whole
family and the church to provide the spiritual roots children
need. The author shows through examples how grandparents and
caregivers, as well as parents, can draw from biblical models to
inspire children's spiritual development.
Summary by Carol Kerske, Adult Librarian
(AL)
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Families in Pain: Working Through the
Hurts, by Judith and Jack Balswick, 254 pp.
The authors begin their book by describing the shock they
experienced when they learned that their young son had cancer.
They cover many topics, including the early years of marriage,
rearing young children, divorce, illness, death of parents, and
addictions. As therapists, they offer several ways to cope,
emphasizing a strong faith and staying connected with a
supportive network of people.
Summary by Carol Kerske, Adult Librarian
(AL)
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William Wilberforce: A
Biography by Stephen Tomkins. In the 1780’s, British
ships took 40,000 slaves a year from Africa on the notorious
“Middle Passage,” to the Caribbean and beyond. Wilberforce
pushed England to examine the brutality of this institution by
introducing a bill in Parliament to abolish this trade of human
cargo. Struggling with his Methodism as a young man, Wilberforce
befriended John Newton, the writer of the hymn “Amazing
Grace,” who himself was a captain of a slave ship for many
years. Wilberforce reaches out to his best friend British Prime
Minister William Pit to campaign for the cause. Little did both
men realize that it would consume their lives: it took twenty
years for the bill to pass. Wilberforce spent the remainder of
his life fighting social injustices in England and, at the end
of his life, was buried in Westminster Abbey.
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After reading this book, I urge you to rent and
watch the movie Amazing Grace. You see Wilberforce’s
unwavering character as he fights the battle of our inhumanity
to others in a society lacing the moral conviction of what is
right against what is profitable.
Review by Bonnie Lund
(RC)
RC
– Reading Cart, Narthex St. Paul’s UMC
AL—Adult
Library, St. Paul’s UMC
CL—Children’s
Library, St. Paul’s UMC
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