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Author Archives: Seth
Just Too Busy
Just Too Busy: Taking Your Family on a Radical Sabbatical
Joanne Kraft
Product Details
- Paperback: 192 pages
- Publisher: Beacon Hill Press
- Language: English
- Date of reading: May 2, 2012
Point: Joanne Kraft shows how detrimental overly-busy lives can be, and what her family did to be pro-active in that area.
Path: Kraft explains what most of our lives look like. Busy, overworked, etc. She uses her own life and family as an example of where she was and what they did to change their situation. As a family, they had a whole year that they did not participate in extracurricular activities and they had one family field trip every month. She goes on to explain what her family members thought and even some roadblocks along the way.
Agreement: This book is a very accurate representation of our society and culture as a whole. I liked the idea of stepping back and evaluating all of our areas of involvement. I appreciated her dealing with the fact that many of the activities or possessions in life are not a “right” or a “need” but a desire. I also appreciated her emphasis on not living our lives based upon what other people think, but doing what you need to do in your life for God’s glory.
Disagreement: I would have liked to see more of a Gospel-centered focus in the book. Christ was mentioned, but it seems as though the main reasons given to slow life down and not attend all of the nonessential events were to enjoy your children before they move away rather than the glorification of Christ. I also would have appreciated a section in which the book really dealt with the heart of busyness. There were a couple of brief references to things that sounded slightly like psychology, but as always we need to read with discernment.
Personal App: I need to ask myself if I am too busy doing a lot of things that do not have eternal value. Also, what are my motivations for being involved in the areas in which I am?
Stars: 4 out of 5
I would recommend it.
Henry V by William Shakespeare
Henry V
by William Shakespeare
Product Details
Audio Book
Date written: ca 1600
Point: King Henry of England braves the French in the battle of Agincourt to successful conquer the land and take Katharine as his bride.
Path: Shakespeare carefully inserts major and minor characters throughout his play, bringing both comic relief, and truthful contemplation to the reader’s attention.
Sources: From my understanding, Shakespeare based much of the play upon Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles. Holinshed was one of the contemporary historians, and available to Shakespeare. He also uses his understanding of the English spirit, and the disagreements common among the Welsh, Irish, French and English.
Agreement: Well written, exciting, and stirring presentation of this moment in history. One cannot help but be stirred by the famous St. Crispin’s Day Speech, and also the speech given At the siege of Harfleur.
Favorite Quote: The greatest sound comes from the hollow jar.
Stars: 4.5 out of 5
It would be worth another read and I would recommend it.
The St. Crispin’s Day Speech is a famous motivational speech from the play, delivered by Henry V before the Battle of Agincourt (act IV scene iii). It is so called because 25 October is the feast day of Saints Crispin and Crispinian.
This day is call’d the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Will stand a tip-toe when this day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say, “To-morrow is Saint Crispian.”
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars, And say, “These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.”
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Will stand a tip-toe when this day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say, “To-morrow is Saint Crispian.”
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars, And say, “These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.”
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he’ll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names, Familiar in his mouth as household words,
Harry the King, Bedford, and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester, Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb’red. This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
But he’ll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names, Familiar in his mouth as household words,
Harry the King, Bedford, and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester, Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb’red. This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.”
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.”
Winter Man-a-thon Part 2
My previous post mentioned some of the elements of our Winter Man-a-thon.
Here I will just leave you with a few highlights:
1. We were able to enjoy the maximum hours of Saturday (we were up at 4 am)
2. Once the fire got going we were able to fully appreciate it (temperatures floating around 0)
3. Breakfast was relished (since we ate from 4 am till 8 am to stay alive)
4. We invented a new meal – the “Bean Bag” (our hands were too cold to grip a plate)
5. We enjoyed a long hike in the woods (keep the blood moving in the legs)
The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic
The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic
Product Details
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Puffin
Date Published: 2011
Point: Living in the face of fear is not the same as living in fear.
Path: The reader follows 10 year old Persimmony Smudge through a rolling adventure filled with jumping tortoises, short kings, secret passages, and one giant surprise.
Sources: An active imagination and a thoughtful style.
Agreement: This would be a great book to read to your child. With short chapters, catchy titles, funny characters, and good lessons this could provide excellent talking points.
Personal App: I appreciated the ending of the book.
Favorite Quote:
Stars: 4 out of 5
It would be worth another read and I would recommend it.
Without a Care
Grace before Meat in The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb, Vol. 2
Grace before Meat in The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb, Vol. 2
by Charles Lamb
Product Details
Kindle book
Point: Perhaps our habit of saying grace before a meal is not appropriate. It fails to be appropriate not because the Maker does not deserve thanks, but because the Eater is not truly thankful.
Path: Lamb humorously demonstrates the disjunction made between the man’s prayer and the man’s manners at the dinner table.
Sources: Lamb relies on his many hours spent before a table, in the company of both children, gentlemen, and gluttons.
Agreement: Lamb makes the comparison of the belly to a god. I think he is exactly right. Our appetites rule over us. Whether one gorges, or starves themselves, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame.
Personal App: When I sit down to pray before a meal, do I thank God for his provision at every occasion, or merely at feasts? And do I take this thankful spirit with me as I open my mouth again to eat?
Some Favorite Quotes:
“The form then of the benediction before eating has its beauty at a poor man’s table, or at the simple and unprovocative repasts of children. It is here that the grace becomes exceedingly graceful.”
“It is a confusion of purpose to mutter out praises from a mouth that waters.”
“The giver is veiled by his gifts.”
“I would have them postpone their benediction to a fitter season, when appetite is laid; when the still small voice can be heard, and the reason of the grace returns–with temperate diet and restricted dishes. Gluttony and surfeiting are no proper occasions for thanksgiving.”
“but the proper object of the grace is sustenance, not relishes; daily bread, not delicacies; the means of life, and not the means of pampering the carcass.
Stars: 5 out of 5
It would be worth another read and I would recommend it.
Guide to Biblical Manhood
A Guide To Biblical Manhood: How to Serve your Wife, How to Mold Men through Baseball, How to Make Men in the Church & More
by Randy Stintson & Dan Dumas
Product Details
Paperback: 110 pages
Publisher: Southern Baptist Theological Seminar
Date Published: 2011
Point: Genuine manhood is found in Christ. It is tough, demanding, scarce, and possible through the Gospel.
Path: This short book is divided into four key sections. The authors first highlight genuine manhood through studies of biblical figures such as Adam, Job, David, Solomon, Paul, and Jesus Christ. The second section focuses on a man and his marriage followed by a section focused on a man and his children. The final section is an encouragement to pastors to model and teach biblical manhood.
Sources: The authors fill their short chapters with biblical references, helpful quotes, and funny illustrations.
Agreement: I appreciate this short plug for biblical and genuine manhood. This is a book that I plan on buying for guys going on our bi-annual man-a-thons. I plan on placing this book in the hands of my brothers. It is not meant to be a definitive guide on manhood, but a signpost to the comprehensive work – God’s Word.
Disagreement: There were a few slips and typographical errors (ascribing the book of Jude to Paul, etc.). One could complain about generalizations or shallow treatments, but this is meant to be a booklet, not a treatise.
Personal App: I need to love God, love my wife, love others and lead well. Genuine biblical manhood is not natural nor easy – but it is what God expects of me and can produce in my through the Gospel.
Favorite Quote: “Yes, children need to clean their room, to share with their brother and to stop hitting, but more importantly, they need the Gospel” (98).
Stars: 4.5 out of 5
It would be worth another read and I would recommend it.
By the rivers
Washington
Bursting Forth
