Lowry's Giver and Orwell's 1984: Significant Parallels

A great deal of controversy surrounds Lois Lowry’s novel The Giver. The controversy varies depending on the topic. Ironically many people believe the novel should be censored. “The irony of censorship attacks on the novel is that The Giver dramatizes the plight of an individual living in a society that censors its peoples’ language, emotions, and behaviors” (Lord). First, parents throughout the country believe the book should be banned from schools due to adult themes. Next, many feel the book has too many similarities to other books about dystopian societies. Finally, because Lowry chose to leave the ending up to the reader, people tend to overlook the positive message that can be taken from such a book. Whether it be due adult themes, similarities to dystopian societies, and the ambiguous ending, we must decide for ourselves whether The Giver should be removed from school shelves.

Though it is true there are adult themes throughout the book such as infanticide, euthanasia, the broken down family unit, and censorship; the book can be used as a tool to teach young adults about the world around them. Lowry wrote the novel specifically for young adults. However, it is argued the language and visualizations Lowry chose to use is horrifying and disturbing to young adults. However, as a society, we must not forget that many of our fairy tales were originally just as horrifying and disturbing in order to teach valuable lessons to young adults. For instance in Hansel and Gretel, the youngsters did not conquer the witch and return to their grief stricken father. In fact the story was written to warn children not to wander off in the woods, for they did not know what could be awaiting them. It could have been a hungry witch as in Hansel and Gretel, a starving wolf dressed up as your grandmother as in Little Red Riding Hood, or even a rapist waiting for a fair maiden to fall asleep for him to ravish as in Sleeping Beauty. Just as these stories provided valuable lessons to the youth of centuries past, The Giver provides a valuable lesson to the young adults of today.

In today’s society people scream for more and more governmental control of what our young adults are exposed to. Lowry’s novel has gone under much scrutiny because parents are afraid of the adult themes. Depending on a person’s viewpoint, infanticide is not present in the United States (some may argue abortion is infanticide); neither is euthanasia. However, because infanticide and euthanasia is still practiced in other cultures throughout the world, it is important that young adults construct their own viewpoints of the brutal practice. To Jonas and the others in his community, infants were released into “Elsewhere.” Unless the person’s job was to release an individual, they were left oblivious to the true meaning of “release.” When Jonas’ father releases the smaller twin, he lacks the apprehension most readers would expect if told to kill a newborn child. This scene is one of the most scrutinized scenes in the novel. “Would-be censors object to the scene because it is so graphic, and because it transforms Jonas’s once beloved father into a cold-blooded murderer” (Lord). However, without scenes like these, young adults would be left to wonder why emotions are so important to an individual. If the emotions are stripped away from society in such a manner, there could be another excepted massive holocaust as seen in Nazi Germany.

Furthermore, the breakdown of the family unit is one other criticized theme in the novel. The government chooses the family units, relationships are never consummated, and the children are assigned to certain parents. Jonas’ world is void of grandparents as well. Because the parents are removed from their children, as they become adults, they are not allowed contact with their grandchildren. Family values and memories are not passed down through the generations as they are done today. This leads to the lack of individuality that Jonas’ society is all about, or as they call it “sameness.” Jonas the Receiver and the Giver are the only people in the community that hold on to the memories that give wisdom. Because everything is nearly perfected in organization, people are left with no control of their own destinies. They have no choices to make because committees have made all of those choices for them. Too much governmental power is what the constitution has been written to prevent. People must learn at a young age they have choices to make throughout their own lives. Every choice that the child makes affects his or her future. The best way to teach a child how important it is to have the right to make choices on their own is to give them examples of societies where one’s destiny is not in their own hands. A society where individuals have lost control, which may be painted as utopian societies; however, they are, in fact, dystopian societies in which control is left to a Totalitarian regime.

The similarities between Jonas’ community and the dystopian communities in other novels is also reason for controversy surrounding The Giver. Lowry’s novel can be viewed as George Orwell’s 1984 for young adults, because of the many similarities between the two books. Patty Campbell states, “At first it seems to be an autocratic state – an impression that is given credence by Orwellian images such as the rasping voices that chastise from ubiquitous speakers.” This is very similar to the chastisement Winston Smith receives during the lack of his full attention to his physical jerks. However, the main differences between the two societies is the loudspeakers in The Giver do not single individuals out; whereas the voice from the telescreen screamed, “Smith!...6079 Smith W! Yes, you! Bend lower, please! You can do better than that. You’re not trying. Lower, please!” (36). Another similarity is the Receiver possesses memories that society wanted to forget, and Winston possesses memories the Party wants rewritten and forgotten. Furthermore, rule breakers are released in The Giver. However, rule breakers in 1984 are not allowed death, but they are forced to release their identities, thoughts, and ideas. Then they are forced into conformity or “sameness.”

Additionally, the two novels have the biblical allusion of life, death, and resurrection. Jonas is the different from everyone else during his life, but does not call attention to his gift to see beyond. Like everyone else, he takes a pill to suppress his stirrings; Jonas lives in his community of people just as everyone else does. When Jonas first becomes the receiver, he looses the identity, which was forced upon him. Jonas loses his innocence and becomes aware of the society around him. This is the death of his sameness; and Jonas is resurrected as an individual who makes his own memories, and is the salvation of his community. Likewise, Winston’s life death and resurrection story is similar as Jonas’s, but at the same time, it is completely opposite. Winston begins as a freethinker with ideas that could save his community. Like Jesus, his ideas and lifestyle is dangerous to the totalitarian regime that controls the populous. Therefore, he is spiritually executed and forced to conform to the masses. In the end Winston is resurrected as the shell of the man he once was. He is left with no emotion and a sense of helplessness. The reader does learn, however, the citizens in The Giver did chose their way of life; but because the memories and histories are kept from them, the reader is left to wander if they made the choice willingly or if the choice was forced upon them as in Winston’s case. After all, Jonas himself wonders how much he has been told is the truth, or how much of it may be the lies individuals are allowed to tell. It is confusing why people fear novels, which warn against the horrors and atrocities one may face in a dystopian society. Perhaps it is due to the violent themes these societies suggest. However, there are only two ways people can learn about the horrors and atrocities of dystopian societies. They either learn from first hand experience, or they learn from reading. In order to prevent such atrocities from happening in the future, it is crucial that young adults learn about them when they are young.

Another source of controversy is the ambiguous ending Lowry has given to her story. “Lowry refuses to provide a tidy ending” (Campbell). This leaves the readers to draw their own conclusions about the ending. Either readers feel Jonas and Gabriel died, or readers are more optimistic and believe that Jonas and Gabriel found their happy ending. They were accepted into a family like the memory of the Christmas gathering. The vague ending has caused people to believe young adults will be distraught if they feel the young adults have passed away. Because there are many Biblical allusions throughout the novel, it can be assumed if Jonas and Gabriel died, they entered the Kingdom of Heaven.

As mentioned before, Jonas is the savior of his community. He is given a gift to see beyond, which no one else has. Also, Gabriel’s name leads readers with a Christian background to believe the infant is a messenger sent to deliver revelations to Jonas. Without Gabriel’s attachment to Jonas, the meaning of release may not have been fully revealed to Jonas. Gabriel’s impending release announced the resurrection of Jonas as the savior of his community. Finally, the name Jonas is a variation of Jonah, who was called by God to “Go to the great city Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me” (Jonah 1:2). Like Jonah, Jonas is scornful of the wickedness in his community. Because preaching against their ways would mean release for Jonas, the only way he can help them is to leave them with their memories so they can become whole again, so they can feel again. The Biblical undertones to The Giver supports the idea this novel is appropriate for young adults. One way people can strengthen faith in other people is to challenge that faith. This book can be used as a tool to strengthen Christian faith in young adults.

So, is The Giver an appropriate novel for schools? It seems many values and morals can be taught from reading the book. The book is written in a manner that leaves questions open in the reader’s mind; thus, it teaches them to think for themselves. Furthermore, Lowry’s novel is appropriate to teach young adults how important the choices they make for themselves are toward their own future. Unlike George Orwell’s 1984, the novel is appropriate for the younger adults, because they, too, need to learn the world is not as picture perfect as they may believe. This notion can light a spark in young adults’ minds, which can lead the way for the freedom of people who are oppressed or wrongfully executed. Furthermore, the book does not harm Christian faith in young minds. In fact it can strengthen that faith. This novel can challenge the minds of the readers. Therefore, it should not be removed from schools. The purpose of sending young adults to school is for them to learn about the world around them. It is just as crucial for young adults to learn the world around them is filled with injustices, as it is for them to learn the world can be a just place. The way young adults learn is by challenging their minds, not sheltering them.

Works Cited

Campbell, Patty. “The Sand in the Oyster.” The Horn Book Magazine. Vol. LXIX.6: Nov.-Dec. 1993: 717-721.

Holy Bible, The. New International Version. Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Zondervan Corporation, 2005.

Lord, Elyse. “The Giver.” Novels for Students. Gale Research: 1998.

Lowry, Lois. The Giver. New York: Delacorte, 1993.

Orwell, George. 1984. New York: Signet Classics, 1977.

Reading and Spirituality

My mother and grandmother are responsible for teaching me to read. Soon after I learned to talk, Mom taught me my ABC’s by using the ABC song. Before I turned four, Mom says I learned to read Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik, which was my first book. I remember Mom and Grandma always had more than enough books for us to read, but that did not stop me for begging for a new book every time we visited the local five and dime. I remember Grandma and Mom reading to my sister and I with expression and different voices for each character. Grandma also bought us a monthly subscription to Highlights magazine, which I loved. Once she had personalized books made for us. Other personal library books that I owned were the Dr. Seuss books, a Bible stories book, and several Little Golden Books. However, my favorite books were the Disney books that came with a thirty-three inch vinyl record. They were read along books that would ding when it was time to turn the page. I also remember my sister and I watched quite a bit of “Sesame Street,” “The Electric Company,” and “Zoom,” because Mom always had the television tuned in to PBS (there was no cable back then).

When I first began school, everything I learned from watching “Sesame Street” was reinforced at school. Our teachers had oversized air-filled letter characters from the show. We would listen to songs and stories featuring the letter of the week. Then, we would be given a coloring sheet with the letter on it and would color it in class. It would go home with us, and we would use magazines and catalogues to cut out pictures of items and people, which began with the featured letter. These were pasted on the coloring sheet and returned to school. Once we arrived, we were called in front of the class to explain what items were on our sheets. As I progressed in elementary school, I remember singing and singing. We would sing of stories we read, sing about grammar rules, and sing tongue twisters. The first readers I used were the Dick, Jane, and Spot readers. I also remember the very first time I was asked to diagram a sentence was in the third grade. My teachers read to us in class, and had each student to take turns reading aloud. Throughout school, I had both oral and non-oral book reports due in class. When we had an oral report over an autobiography, the teacher would have us to dress up like the character we had read and written about. Off-hand, the only instructional strategy that I did not enjoy much was writing the vocabulary sentences five times each. Due to there always being twenty words, I was often up past bedtime working on the sentences. Overall, the teachers seemed to believe that the way to get a child in my elementary school to learn to read was to use a lot of repetition, as well as to reinforce what we may have seen elsewhere.

There was not much to do when the weather was bad so we read the same books over and over again. Some of the ones I enjoyed most were the illustrated Bible stories that filled our library. I grew up reading these books, which I feel gave me a good Christian foundation to build upon. Literacy further strengthened this foundation, because I was able to sing hymns that were lesser known to me. Singing has always been my outlet, and songs help me work through problems and emotions that I may face. Today, reading impacts my spiritual life by bringing me even closer to life as a Christian. Through reading I get more of a sense of what my role as a Christian is in the world. Furthermore, reading has given me more of an outlook on where we have been as a human race and how far we have come. It also gives me insight into how much farther we have to go as Christians in this mixed up world that we live in. I also enjoy reading books on Christianity and faith, such as Pilgrim Heart and Extravagant Grace. This, too, gives me more insight into God’s will for us as Christians.

Insight is what I get most from reading. Therefore, I love to read and encourage reading in my home. My children and I choose short stories, which we read to one another at least once a week. I read a variety of materials, such as magazine articles, research articles, novels, poetry, plays, scientific magazines, books on faith, non-fiction (mostly historical), and even children’s books. Yes, I did say children’s books; I like to know what my children are reading. I have found if we have read the same book, it can help foster many discussions. I am fairly secure with my ability to read a variety of texts that affect my daily life.

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes

Chris Crutcher’s novel Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is a riveting novel about the pains of growing up both in a dysfunctional home and as an outsider in the teen scene. This touching story is packed full of believable characters and believable situations. It is a novel that often is considered for censorship, but is also a novel that could teach a great deal to young adults. It is a novel that can change the worlds of so many people who may need compassion and a helping hand.

For many young adults, growing up is painful, and compassion is difficult to find. According to Childhelp, an organization dedicated to meet the various needs of abused children, over three million cases of child abuse are reported each year. However, “experts estimate that the actual number of incidents of abuse and neglect is 3 times greater than reported” (Childhelp). This is a larger problem than many would like to admit, but Crutcher has done a great job bringing this issue to the forefront in this novel. Both Sarah Byrnes and Dale Thornton live with the problems, which arise from being raised in an abusive home. Sarah is a prankster who laughs at everything. Dale is a bully that passes on the abusive treatment he has received and learned from his father. They both have built up a wall between themselves and the world. Neither child has an adult they can trust, and they are both fully aware that telling what happens in their homes would only cause more trouble. As we learn more about Sarah’s father, it becomes quite clear why the child would fake a catatonic state.

Though it is hard for many people to understand why a child would rather spend time in a psychiatric hospital than their own home, people who have been in Sarah’s situation know when there is too much physical pain, a person will do almost anything to get away from it. Her situation is just as believable as every other situation in the book. Crutcher’s background as a therapist has served him well in writing this novel. Amazingly, Sarah does not pity herself the way she does the children who have the emotional and mental scarring inside; she does not believe she is like them. It is not until she writes the letter to Eric that she begins to realize that she acts tough and mean to hide her own pain. Sarah is not the only character whose true-to-life dysfunctional family is noticeable. Mark’s family, though not physically abusive, is just as dysfunctional than Sarah’s. Mark’s father pushes him so hard to be the perfect son that he makes bad decisions which leads to his suicide attempt. Though the father feels he is a good Christian man he has forgotten the words of his Messiah, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14). The pressure from Mark’s father has deterred the young man from his Christian responsibility to uphold the rules set down in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, which basically says we should not fornicate. Sure Mark can spin a fine yarn as he stands upon his pulpit preaching about the sins of abortion; however, he does not seem to be able to practice what he preaches. Is this situation believable? Yes, it is common for people to fail to be able to refrain from the sins they preach against. This is seen every day in newspaper headlines across the country.

Another situation that makes the novel believable is the situation with Carver. He goes after Virgil Byrnes and ends up beating him in a questionable bout of self-defense. Many novels give the happy ending to the hero that caught the ‘bad guy,’ but Crutcher does not give the happy ending we are expecting; Carver does receive some jail time. Another unhappy ending component is that Sarah’s mom refuses to save her daughter from ongoing pain and suffering, both physical and emotional. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, “Mothers are found to be the neglectful parent in 72% of neglect cases.” All of the other situations in the novel are believable as well. According to Contemporary Authors Online Chris Crutcher has said, “It is a joy to write a tale that is believable, that is real.” Crutcher goes on to state, “Working in the mental health field provides me with some unique perspectives on the human drama – how people get stuck and how they grow” (Contemporary). Crutcher’s novel Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is unique because of this perspective that he feels so fortunate to have.

Although the characters are believable and the novel is unique, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is often considered for censorship. In 2005 a mother in Westmoreland, New York wanted the novel to be pulled from the high school curriculum due to its “graphic language.” Though she took her attempt to the school board the superintendent Toni Kulak stated, “We’re going to continue to use the book because we think it’s valuable to our students” (School, 20). Though the novel does have some strong language and the issues raised in the novel may make people a bit uncomfortable and on edge, the novel is a powerful novel about the hardships many young adults face. This novel can give a teacher of young adults many opportunities for class discussion. For instance, in a school with high pregnancy rates, a sexual education teacher could use the novel as an outlet for class discussion about the effects of unprotected sex and abortion. Similarly, in a school where bullying is an issue, the teacher can use the novel to spark discussion on how Sarah must have felt when she was called “Scarface” by her peers, or how Eric must have felt when people called him “Moby” or “Fatboy.” There are many other topics for potential discussion in the novel. Censoring a novel with so much potential for molding young minds into compassionate minds would be a critical mistake.

Though Crutcher’s novel is marketed as a novel for young adults, the novel is suitable for adults. This novel is packed full of believable situations that many people can relate to. It can be used to teach adults and young adults about the hardships of growing up in an environment that they may not have experienced. It can be a tool for young adults who are experiencing such living environments to realize they need to learn to trust other adults, and not all adults are bad. Furthermore, the book can be used as a valuable tool for every high school classroom. In conclusion, this novel is a powerful novel that can change the world of many adults, both young or old.

A Testimony to Church and Community

The life led by Eberhard Arnold was truly an inspiration to many. In the first section of A Testimony to Church Community we are taught who Eberhard Arnold was and of the life that he led. Eberhard was dedicated to benefiting the poor and oppressed from a young age. At the age of sixteen, Eberhard fully made his commitment to doing the Lord’s work. He married in 1909. Shortly after, he had to move his family due to an illness of the lungs and larynx. This is when Eberhard began writing. His sister-in-law moved in with the family and became Eberhard’s secretary as well as the first member of their community. Though Eberhard was drafted and served a few weeks of service, he had a strong anti-war view fueled by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The Sermon on the Mount particularly inspired Eberhard. He strongly believed that it is not possible to be both a Christian and a soldier. A short time later, Eberhard Arnold’s community began to grow. They were dedicated to educating underprivileged children. The community also educated others in the surrounding area from their many publications. The group’s efforts to live a peaceful, communal life were suddenly halted by invading Nazis. The community uprooted (children and youth first) and moved to Switzerland. While on a quest for a more permanent home for the community, Eberhard passed away as he underwent surgery on his broken leg. Before his passing, Eberhard left his community with inspirational words on his hopes for the future and continuation of the church.

I found the dedication of Eberhard Arnold to God very inspirational. He strove to find solutions to many problems facing his community. I believe that Eberhard took the teachings of Jesus very seriously. This is quite evident when he stated, “We must obey God rather than men.” Eberhard, like Jesus, strove to reach out to those who were marginalized. I like that Eberhard reached out to the youth in particular. His community’s dedication to educating underprivileged children is above all inspiring to me. After reading how willing Eberhard was to keep his community going no matter the obstacles that came their way, I was truly moved. I have learned from this short passage how dedication and determination in life through Jesus can touch and change many other lives.

In the second section of A Testimony to Church and Community, we get more insight to Eberhard Arnold’s views of God’s purpose. To Arnold, God’s main purpose is togetherness or unity. Arnold told us that we cannot achieve God’s purpose without knowing love. Only love prevails and God’s love is eternal. Love is kindness and fulfills the needs of others. Love is unconditional and warrants no return. This love sees through the sins of man, and still loves and protects. Arnold felt that God’s purpose is for us to realize that the creator, God, is not in nature. Nature is not a way to God, because he is greater than all of nature. In class, we have learned that God is creating again. He is creating togetherness. Arnold tells us that whoever walks the path of God shall be granted an eternal reward. Arnold warns us of the evils of material goods. To him, material goods must benefit God’s purpose. Arnold feels that man must rise above temptations in order to win God’s kingdom back; then, and only then, God will return to rule. Arnold also reminded us that God exists beyond man-made boundaries. He reaches the farthest expanses of the universe. We must become worthy of God. Arnold proposes unity as God’s purpose. Just as we have been learning inn class, Arnold sees the oneness of God and the oneness of man as this purpose. He tells us when we are in isolation, living the way we do today, we are unable to truly live. We will truly be alive once broken free from the shackles of our own existence, our own isolationism. When we accept God, we become free from struggle. The Kingdom of God is within us, no matter where we reside. This reminds me of Acts 2:5 where Luke tells us of the diversity of the followers of Christ. Next, Arnold understood that we all have sin, “the beast in us,” and it fights us every step of the way. He felt that we must turn our thoughts into actions and we must keep our thoughts beyond the flesh. We need to be less self-centered to find true freedom. This freedom will lead us to Christ. I feel Arnold was speaking of us finding our oneness with God. To Arnold, Christianity has lost a lot of the true meaning by making it for one person. He felt Christianity is not for the benefit of just one man, but for the benefit of all men. Arnold felt there would be no justice until those who do God’s will inherit the earth. Getting rid of weapons will not bring about peace. Only ending animosity toward one another will bring peace. Peace is found in unity with both Christ and man. We must remember that it is not right to kill a murderer, because this will make us as “impure” as the murderer. This entire section is like a guidebook to finding unity with God through unity with man. If Arnold is correct, then our wait has just begun. This is where our faith has to step in, because chaos consumes our world. We have segregated ourselves from one another for the purpose of self-preservation.

This section of Arnold’s A Testimony to Church and Community covers a variety of topics that all relate to the success of Church Community. These topics include: private property, true understanding, diversity, and social problems. The first thing that Arnold wants man to remember is that private property isolates man. It is the root of most of man’s evils. Capitalism is evil. A capitalist world does not fall because too many people are driven by greed. War is driven by love of the flesh, love of property, and love of self-preservation. Therefore, private property is inherently evil. The sun, the air, the water, and the earth are what keep us living. God gave it all to us. The sun belongs to all man, because it is beyond man’s grasp. However, the air, the water, and the earth are being privatized. The earth should belong to all men, but it is parceled among the many few. Prophets such as Jesus are pro-man therefore they must be anti-private property. Man should follow Jesus’ example and give up all their worldly possessions. Anything possessed by man is his curse. To receive full freedom from all rights and all privileges, man must not collect possessions. Unity is the key to life. It is a part of life. True unity comes from a communal way of life. This section of Arnold’s book reminds me of Acts 4:32-5:11. I think that the point that Arnold is trying to get across is that we all must put our trust into God. We must trust that God will take care of all of our needs. We must remember that if we are in unity with God, then we will be provided for. For a true community to work effectively, man must sacrifice everything including himself. This is what it means to love. This reminds me of Acts 15:1-35 where we learned that every man in God’s community must sacrifice many things that makes him an individual. They must sacrifice their culture and their ideals in order for the community to work.

Next Arnold shares with us that true understanding comes from “the spirit of Church Community” (Arnold, 30). Community begins with agreement on emotion, will, and thought. If the bond between a group raises the group to higher ground, then they will be able to see more. They will find fulfillment, and they will find something beyond humanity. What they will find is the Holy Spirit, which creates a new perception of reality. Each person in a community is just as important as the next. The Church is more than brick and stone. It is the people who dwell within its walls. Take the walls down; the Church should still thrive. While reading this, I am reminded of Peter’s vision where he learns that anything that God has made is not impure or unclean. He applied this lesson to people as well. He learned that every man was an equal to himself. Arnold then adds that the Church should be diverse. This section reminds me of the picture painted in Acts 2:5: “Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.” It should reach beyond all nations under heaven and beyond worldly bounds. The Church should reach beyond time and space. It should be the power of God to reconcile all things. God has given the world diversity and his goal is to bring the diversity together as a working unit.

Also, Christ’s Community should alleviate all social problems. The New Kingdom must be free from common sin in order to find success. The laws of Christ must stand before the laws of man. All men must follow Christ’s law to bring forth community or The New Kingdom. All men must remember there is only one leader of any Church; that leader is God. No man can govern another. The purpose of the Church is not only to spread the word, but also to live by the word. I think if everyone were able to follow the advice of Arnold, our world would be a much brighter, safer world. However, since man is unable to let go of everything that makes him an individual, we are not able to find peace and alleviate all social problems. There are many of us within the community in the “waiting” process trying to live by the laws of God. Hopefully, one day, we can all come together and not have to wait any longer.

Throughout the poems of Eberhard Arnold, we find continuing ideas. These ideas include: community, unity, and oneness; love; peace; work; giving; waiting; and trusting. All but one poem fully paints a bright picture, until the end anyway. I will discuss that poem as you read on. I will tackle the more prominent idea in Arnold’s poetry, community. As I go on, you will see how community ties everything else together. I have learned from earlier readings that Arnold feels strongly about the idea of unity and community. Throughout his poems this idea, his message, comes up a total of eighteen times.

Arnold’s message is clear. We must remember that God is one, and through his word we envision the community. God is with us, and His Kingdom is near. His mission is to help us find fulfillment through community. If we become one, God will work through us. Because he works through us, we will be able to work together through community. Our work is to teach others to love each other. We must teach them that Christ is the love that fills hearts, and God is uplifting. As we work, we wait; and when we wait, we learn to trust God and to work as one. God is the trinity working together, so we too must work together. Through working together, new members will join together and complete our circle; then we will be a complete community because we will not only have a physical community, but also have a spiritual community. Only through a spiritual community will we be able to find peace. Peace will help us to be free from temptation; then and only then, God will reclaim the earth.

This message ties more closely to Acts than Revelation thus far. Again, I can see the story of Ananias and Sapphira in this message. We must learn to trust in God to help others find peace and community. However, in Revelation, we are told that God is one. So through this, again, you get the sense of unity. In the letters of John to the seven churches he has told them that they have lost their way. From losing their way, they have lost their sense of unity and community. I feel of all the poems the second poem is more closely tied to Revelation than the others. This poem actually reminds me of the letters. He tells the reader, you have lost hope. There is war and destruction because you are bound more to your country than you are to God. This has helped Satan to get a foothold among us. Temptation has overtaken the world which has given men great burdens. Men are not united to God and each other; they are united to their country and their possessions. However, there is a light among us; this light is God. He works through us to bring us together, and through this we will be united. Then God will be able to reclaim his Kingdom, Earth. Like John, Arnold is telling people, to wake up, to endure. He reminds them that they are forsaking Jesus, and they should not take the middle road. Arnold is trying to get people to know they are being seduced; and though they feel they are good Christians, they are more loyal to other ideas than to God and Christ. Arnold’s message has been very clear; the answer to God’s purpose is community. It is not only a physical community; it is also a community through spirit. If we wake up and accept this way of life, if we trust in God; we will find unity, love, and peace. Then, everything else will work itself out, and God will take his reign among us.

Am I American or Christian?

It was interesting to read The ABCs of American Culture. I had never before realized how American notions are ingrained in our culture. Three of The Ten Commandments of American Culture stood out to me more than others: You Can’t Argue With Success, Live and Let Live, and God Helps Those Who Help Themselves. In order to think more as a Christian I need to work on these areas.

First, I am American in my thinking when it comes to success. I always strive to be the best at everything I do. I want to be the best mother, wife, friend, and daughter. I fail in some areas of my life in order to be a success in others. I understand it is not possible to be successful at everything. That is why I continue to remain stressed. I am not satisfied with something, so I push for better. I am at odds with my Christianity; because I spend so much time trying to be successful in my physical life, I ignore my spiritual life too often. Like the ant, I reap my rewards for my diligent attention to being the best I can be at everything I work toward; but like the sluggard, my spiritual life yields little reward. This American notion of success makes it difficult for me to be serious about my discipleship. I stay so consumed with being a success; I have very little time for discipleship.

The American commandment Live and Let Live is also difficult for my discipleship. By American law, I am to be accepting to all types of people, even if I feel their views and lifestyles are sinful and hurtful to the world. I recognize that I live in a political correct society. However, as a Christian, I know certain lifestyles are sinful and full of shameful desires. I know we are called to reach out to those who sin, but many of them are not willing to accept the hand that grants them grace. When I talk to others about their lifestyles, I am often met with a great deal of resistance. I tell them they know my feelings and should be respectful enough to refrain from their behavior in the presence of my children and myself. When they wrong me, I forgive. It would be easy to throw my arms up and walk away. I have often thought of doing so. However, I begin to think of the story of Hosea and Gomer. Afterwards, I forgive and persist in my efforts to teach them the love of God. My choice to forgive is very difficult for many to understand, especially since I have a problem with the sinfulness of those who wrong me. My persistence has me labeled as a fool, but I continue in my efforts.

It was through the efforts of Christians that I have changed my view on the commandment God Only Helps Those Who Helps Themselves. I have heard this phrase uttered time and time again. At one point in my life, I did believe this. Now, I know it is not true. My family and I have been down and out in the past. It was amazing to witness how God helped us through such a difficult time in our lives. Though we were financially destitute, we were spiritually blessed and gained Christian faith. I know that Jesus reached out to many who could not help themselves. In his blessings and woes Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20). I know it was through the grace of God and efforts of my Christian brethren that my family and I were able to get back on our feet. I know, now, that God helps those who need Him regardless of whether they can or cannot help themselves. I feel it is important for Christians to remember that many people are incapable of helping themselves, not only financially, but also physically or mentally. God is there for them. Though I feel that my Christian mentality has overridden my American mentality in this area, I falter here occasionally. I may think, “Well if you would do something....” I usually catch myself, therefore feel it is a work in progress.

As long as I strive to progressively work on these areas of my life, it will be easier for me to be successful in my efforts as a disciple. The one thing that I try to remember to help me persevere in my efforts is our God is not a God of punishment, but is a God of love and compassion. Hopefully, through my efforts and understanding I can become less American and more Christian.

My Own Country

In his book My Own Country, Abraham Verghese gives the reader a glimpse of life into several different cultures embedded within the American culture. The most prominent culture is the emerging AIDS culture, which brings people from all different walks of life into the heart-wrenching story. Like Verghese, the reader is an outsider looking into all of these cultures in which he or she may not otherwise experience. Furthermore, he struggles to make sense of not only the disease, but also to what motivates the actions of the characters, whose lives are ripped apart by the devastating disease. Therefore, throughout Verghese’s work, the reader learns the cold hard reality that AIDS does not discriminate.

No matter the social class, wealth or poverty, AIDS can strike. The most surprising is the depth of ignorance and acceptance present throughout the classes. Though they live in poverty, the McCray family comes together through their crisis. Clyde and Vickie’s families do not turn the couple away as they come for visits. Right before the end of Clyde’s life, the family takes in the couple’s young son so he does not have to see his father at his worst. Similar to the McCray family, Essie and Gordon’s friends and family came together to provide Gordon with a sufficient support system. To read how Essie told the story of the end of Gordon’s life, the reader is left to believe none of the family and friends were afraid to rally around their loved one. Unfortunately, the most educated, the upper class people in the story seemed more intolerant group of people. Their intolerance seems to stem from ignorance about the disease. This is seen several times throughout the book. For instance, the dentists and the pharmacist, all educated people who should have known about HIV/AIDS were the least willing to have anything to do with the victims. Although the pharmacist did not have any qualms about taking the money, he was quick to spread around town which people were infected. From the story of Will and Bess Johnson, the reader is given another glimpse of the intolerance of the upper classes. Though their children continue to be accepting of Will and Bess, the couple adamantly refuse to let the disease be known to their colleagues or the congregation of their church. They fear the knowledge of their condition will further harm their family and possibly harm their friends. This tends to lead the reader to imagine the segment of society the Johnson’s belong to views AIDS in the same manner as Verghese’s Indian counterparts. If the couple had been to a party similar to the one Abraham and Rajani attended, and the couple had been as open about their disease as Abraham was about his work; perhaps they would have felt the same way Verghese did. They may have felt judged or as outsiders.

Other than the economic barriers the reader witnesses as outsiders, Verghese guides the reader through several other cultures in the book. He shares with the reader how different Christians, including himself, find strength through their faith to face the AIDS. He also breaks stereotypes and boundaries set up about Americans from the south, such as racism. Verghese then invites the reader to view the Indian-American culture. Here the reader learns among their own sub-culture, there is a hierarchy. Another sub-culture is the gay culture from where Verghese’s first victims came from. His careful documentation of the victims helps the reader to understand that every person who is affected by AIDS is, in fact, an innocent victim. He tells the stories with both frankness and compassion. Though Verghese seems rather blunt in his description of various sexual practices of his patients, he also allows the reader to feel the emotions that they and he feel. From all of the cultures represented in My Own Country, the reader is able to begin to understand the actions of the members each culture.

Works Cited

Verghese, Abraham. My Own Country. New York: Vintage, 1994.

My Name Is Asher Lev

In Chaim Potok’s novel My Name Is Asher Lev the title character Asher goes through the common struggles of a minority trying to find his identity in America. Adapting to Western culture often means Asher has to make a choice between the Western culture and his Jewish heritage. The choices that Asher often makes builds an ever-growing chasm between Asher and the community he was born to be a part of. Art is the ultimate symbol of Asher’s own identity and maturity. Asher’s drive to be a Western artist inevitably drives him away from his Jewish community. As a Jew, Asher is expected to follow in his father, Aryeh’s footsteps, and dedicate his life to the work of the Lord. However, living as Aryeh does is a future Asher is reluctant to embrace.

Instead, from a very young age, Asher aspires to be an artist. When Asher was only four and had just begun to draw, Aryeh chastises him for it and told him, “Your grandfather would not have liked you to waste so much time with foolishness” (12). Asher goes on to tell the reader that Aryeh “was indifferent to my drawing; he thought it something children did when they were very young and then outgrew” (12). From this time on, though Asher cares for his father, the distance between Asher and Aryeh grows. However, art is something that Asher never gave up. It is something he embraced with the help and partial support of his mother, Rikveh. Unfortunately, Rikveh fails to fully understand Asher’s art.

At one point in his life, she asks him why he does not draw pretty pictures. He tries to explain that art is not supposed to be pretty, that it is supposed to evoke emotions. Though Rikveh does not fully understand, she does support Asher’s decision to draw by allowing him to buy pencils and notebooks. In essence, Rikveh is feeding Asher’s need to find himself in the confusing world he lives in. In the world Asher lives in, everything must be done with the approval of the Rebbe. When the Rebbe decides Asher’s family is ready to move to Vienna, Asher tells everyone he does not want to go. Yudel Krinsky reminds Asher, “The Torah says, ‘Honor your father and mother,’” (103). Mrs. Rackover also tells Asher that he is “driving us all crazy with your pictures and your stubbornness” (115). Already, at the age of ten, Asher is being ostracized by his community.

Asher’s drive to find himself through his art is so powerful that he steals the paints and brushes that he cannot afford. Asher begins to hate his artistic gift, and he says, “The gift was making me ill and causing everyone around me to suffer – and I hated it, despised, it, wanted to burn and destroy it, felt toward it a mountainous rage” (148). After speaking to the Rebbe, Asher was officially given the permission to continue to study art. This marks a turning point in Asher’s life, the point in his life that invites him to enter the secular world as long as his life “is lived for the sake of heaven” (192). Soon Asher becomes the understudy of Jacob Kahn, who he had met in the waiting room of the Rebbe’s office. Jacob serves as Asher’s spiritual guide into the secular, pagan world. He encourages Asher to draw pictures of nude women and takes him to art exhibits for study.

During his time studying art, Aryeh and Rikveh are living a life of their own, a life that does not include Asher. Likewise, Asher’s life is becoming one of his own. While in Europe, Asher comes to an understanding of his father’s work and the work of his grandfather. In his apartment in Paris, he is forced to reach deep within himself for “memories of my own” (322). Asher realizes he has become separated from his community. However, for the first time in his life, he feels a close connection to his ancestors. He feels that he is to bring a balance to the world just as his ancestor had tried to do. After returning home, Asher visits his ill mentor, Jacob Kahn. Jacob commends Asher on his crucifixions that he has drawn. He tells Asher, “I sculptured a David. I am proud… I created a new David… A breathing David.” This alludes to Asher’s growth and maturity, for Asher has surpassed his teacher.

When Asher finally meets up with his parents, Aryeh tells him, “Wherever I travel now, there is always someone who knows your name. ‘Are you the father of Asher Lev, the painter?’ they ask me. It’s a very strange feeling. Asher Lev, the painter” (352-3). This alludes to a reversal of roles between Asher and his father. Several times in the first half of the book, people call Asher “Asher Lev son of Reb Aryeh Lev.” Now, Asher’s father is known for who Asher has become. Being an artist adds additional strain on the relationship between Asher and his father, and Asher and his community. Because of the stress put on the lives of all the people close to Asher, the Rebbe decides to send Asher to the yeshiva in Paris. He tells Asher that he is now alone. Throughout the novel, the drive to become a successful artist was also a quest for Asher to find himself. He was driven to become an artist by his gift, and this drive led Asher toward maturity and a sense of self.

Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience

To begin with, I was shocked when I read, “…the polling data point to widespread, blatant disobedience of clear biblical moral demands on the part of people who allegedly are evangelical, born again Christians” (Sider, 17). However, the further I got in the chapter, my astonishment subsided due to the familiarity of the statements and statistics I read. For instance, I am acquainted with just as many Christians who have been divorced as non-Christians. I feel that this is closely related to all of the other sub-points that Sider has throughout the chapter. The fact that more women of the evangelical denomination are abused than other areas of the population could contribute to higher divorce rates. Many women I know that are divorce have done so due to physical abuse. Similarly, the percentages of evangelicals, both traditional and non-traditional, that think adultery is fine could contribute to the higher divorce rate. Also, almost as many Christian males engage in some sort of pornographic activity than their counter parts. Other divorced friends I know have complained that their exes have either cheated on them, or were more interested in internet porn than in them. I also feel that adultery, pornography, and other sexual indiscretions in parents may lead to sexual indiscretions of children. Because of this, I was not surprised to read “…evangelical youth are only about 10 percent less likely to engage in premarital sex then non-evangelicals” (Sider, 23). After all, most people model what they deem to be appropriate behavior. Children look to their parents for appropriate behavior; likewise, evangelicals look to their leaders for appropriate behavior. Therefore, evangelical communities are often lead astray by their leaders. If their leaders model greed, then they model greed. If the leaders were to live more simply, perhaps they would live more simply. If their leaders are racist, they tend to be racist. Why so many non-Christians have such a negative view of Christianity makes much more sense to me after reading the chapter.

I have seen many Christians turn away from those in poverty. My homeless experience humbled me as a Christian, but also opened my eyes to the church of which I was a member. There was a great deal of hypocrisy in this church. How can people claim to be Christian, but turn a blind eye to those in need? I can personally see why this would cause non-believers to despise Christians. The actions of this particular church caused me to loose faith in that church. Had it not been for one fellow, non-church going Christian, I may have lost faith in God. Their Christian act helped my family when we needed it most. With my eyes wide open, I looked at the world anew. I, myself, had been obsessed with material possessions just before we lost it all. I was at one time no different than the other members of my church. We hung out together and drank together just the night before we all attended service together. Many of my “friends” in the church were no different than Sider’s pagans. I know not all Christians are like that, and not all pastors lower the standards to accommodate the congregation. Unfortunately, this seems to be a trend across the United States. No longer are parishioners asked to leave for deviant behavior. The message, “God forgives,” is belted out on every church sign. However, many Christians forget that Jesus may have saved sinners, but he also said, “Go and sin no more.” Wow! That is a tough one. As Christians, we need to remember that our life after Christ is a time of transformation. We are not perfect and we all sin, but we should all model the life of Christ. We should abstain from sin, be compassionate to our brethren, and not repay evil for evil.

I completely agree with what Sider has to say about sin. There is both personal and social sin. You can live out your life and avoid all of the temptations that are put before you; but if you look at the social injustices and sit idly by without even trying to change them, then you are still sinful. Many people enjoy the freedoms and material possessions that they have without realizing what the actual costs. People look for the cheapest prices on clothing and do not think twice about where the clothing was made, who it was made by, or what the human cost of such clothing is. Almost everything that Americans enjoy today comes with great cost to humanity. I believe that social sin is when many benefit for the sacrifices of few. In inner city schools, teachers tend to be too “afraid” to teach, so those who are affected the most are the children that attend the schools. This is a social sin; it is bigotry, and I am not talking just about racism. In this country, many people equate poverty with sinfulness. That is not rightly true. This too is a social injustice. A very wealthy, dear friend of mine proclaims that she is a Christian, but she also has stated to me, “I do not see how you can stand being around all of those poor people. All poor people are criminals.” After getting to know her dad, I found that he feels the same way. This is socioeconomic injustice. If you look at the world around you and think, “I do not sin, so all is right with the world;” then you are absolutely jaded about the world around you.

I fear that some churches these days are moving further and further away from Sider’s six crucial points. I feel that each point is equally important than each. Several of them, it seemed Sider did not spend enough time, while I feel he went on and on with others.

Jesus is the center – In churches today, the happiness of the individual seems to be the core of everything that drives it. This point needed more clarification and supporting evidence.

The church is called to be Holy – Once an individual commits to the church, they should not revert to their former lifestyle. This is a point that seems to be looked over throughout today’s churches.

The church as a community – Because God is a community of three, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the church must also be a community in order to be successful.

A countercultural community – Today many churches seem to have conformed to mainstream society. It is acceptable to commit sin after sin from petty lying on to gross misconduct in today’s churches.

Mutual accountability and availability – This point seems to be ignored in today’s churches. According to Sider, we are to be economically and spiritually accountable to our brothers and sisters in Christ. If we commit a sin, we must be held accountable for that sin. If we see a brother and sister in need, we must surrender our possessions to end their suffering.

In the power of the spirit – I wish Sider would have expanded more on this point. As scripture states, “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10); therefore, it is important to remember that God’s grace is what we need in our time of weakness. Many Christians have forgotten that God is here for us and believe that we should work through our problems on our own.

Overall, I agree with the point that Sider made about starting in more personal, smaller groups, which are accountable to larger groups; it is important in bringing the church back to the way it was intended. Many churches today have gotten so large that the members have become disassociated with one another. They are not capable of knowing whether another member has a need or not.

Same Kind of Different As Me

I thought I was impressed with Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together, but seeing Ron Hall and Denver Moore in person was amazing. The most memorable quote from this lecture is when Ron said, “coincidences are God’s way of being anonymous.” That has kind of stuck with me. I think about the statement a lot and realize that there is more truth to the statement than most people would care to admit.

Debbie’s story was even more compassionate hearing it from the two men. I thought I loved the woman before hearing her husband talk about how much helping the homeless meant to her, but now I am in awe of her. It was touching to hear Ron speak of how Debbie never thought about what would happen to her when she worked with “God’s people.” Instead, she only thought what would happen to them if she did not help.

Debbie’s attitude has driven me to reform my own way of thinking, just as it had driven Ron to restructure his. Instead of having a money making purpose, God gave him another purpose, which he did not expect. As Ron said, he did not “realize Denver had anything to offer him.” Throughout Ron’s opening act, he spoke of how God tested him. For instance, when Debbie was sick and the men in the circle were praying for her, Ron felt bad for harshly judging the gentlemen. Furthermore, he felt awful about his snap judgment on Denver when he learned Denver was still in bed.

Now Denver, he stole the show. I was so transfixed on his wisdom, words, and song that I forgot to take notes during his part. I do remember him singing “God is protecting me.” I also remember him making statements like, we are “all somebody in God’s eyesight, the most precious thing is what money can’t buy, and God speaks through you.” I left the lecture with my spirits held high and refreshed, and with a warmth in my heart. Overall, I feel if I were asked to go see the gentlemen “in concert” again, I would not hesitate.

Purchase Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together here.

Review of Pilgrim Heart: The Way of Jesus in Everyday Life

I agree with Tippens on many points in the first part of his book. I have seen many of the “modern souls” in this world that are disconnected from their families, churches, and society. In the technologically based world that we live in this is so easy for many of us to do. We work on sending emails to family members that live far away and friends that we no longer see that we forget there happens to be a world around us that we have disconnected ourselves from. I do not think it is a bad thing to stay connected to people that were close to us, but we need to also reconnect with the world around us.

I like the idea of traveling in community, because this is how Jesus traveled. The further Jesus traveled, the larger his community got. This is because he did not go at it alone, and Jesus calls us to a communal way of life.

Like Tippens, I grew up in a church where the body was looked at as separate from spirit, we focused more on the afterlife than the present. My pastor was a fire and brimstone pastor that never preached a sermon that would make a Christian feel good about himself. We were told every Sunday that because we did not look at our bodies as a mere temple, then we were flawed and sinful. Never once did the pastor preach how we could use our bodies to help others, or how valuable our bodies were. Perhaps this is one reason why I had left that church. It seemed no matter what I did, it was, in that church, a sin and it was wrong, even if I was trying to be a good Christian. I think I have, since, gained a great deal of clarity on Christianity, and I am still learning.

In chapter three, the practice being addressed is “emptying”.  This is the concept of giving up materialism and greed for the sake of Christ. Also known as Kenosis, derived from the Greek word for emptying ones’ self, this idea is very much against every instinct held by Americans today. Our society is all about the dollar bill; another day another dollar. The American dream is just that, American. It is not Christian. If we are to follow the very obvious example and teachings of Christ laid out for us in the Gospels, the American Dream of the big house, 2.4 children, upper-middle class suburban life, is not obtainable. No, rather, it is undesirable! By following this practice of emptying ourselves, we allow Christ to fill the voids in our life. Much like the many instabilities seen in ancient Israel both in North Israel and South Judah, people suffered because they tried to do it all themselves and they forgot to trust God. Why do we read these stories and forget that those ideas still apply to us. By emptying ourselves we rid ourselves of the need to make everything right. We allow God to work in our lives as he has desired to do since the Garden. Jesus did not teach a lesson of following him daily and praying nightly, but all the while saving up for retirement. No, though it may be hard to conceive as Americans, he taught something very different. “The son of man has no place to lay his head” Christ taught a lesson of selflessness, accumulating nothing of earthly value, and relying completely on God and the will he has for our lives. Frankly I cannot understand how we have perverted that. Myself included. If we just empty ourselves, kenosis, and allow God to take control, maybe we wouldn’t be as messed up as we are today. It worked that way for ancient Israel, not sure why it wouldn’t work for modern America.

The idea to love one another no matter the cost changed history. This idea was and still is a Christian idea. Then, Tippens says that we must remember that a stranger at our door may be a messenger from God. This statement reminded me of that old TV show “Highway to Heaven.” These men were always strangers, and they were God’s messengers.

Tippens reminds us that Jesus reached out to those who were marginalized; therefore in order to follow Jesus we must do the same. Tippens also says that a banquet need not be fancy, but it is the heart and spirit that makes the banquet worthy.

Tippens goes on to tell us that donating to those far away is not always enough. It is also important for us to directly help those in need at home.

Tippens also states that we must find our home in Jesus, and through finding that home, we will be more capable of showing hospitality to others. Furthermore, Tippens states that “Jesus welcomed others to his table without compromising the standards, and so can we” (62).

In America today, people find it difficult to follow through with welcoming others. Those who take advantage of other’s hospitality have jaded today’s Christian Americans. Though there are many people who try to get something for nothing, it is important to remember that others may genuinely need our help.

Also our culture has raised us to believe that we are all in danger all of the time. We are conditioned from the time that we can talk to not talk to strangers. The media shows us countless acts of violence that are perpetrated against our brothers and sisters, which places fear into our hearts. With this kind of mentality it is hard for us to reach out to those who live closest to us.

As I was reading through Chapter 5, Resting: The Day Sabbath Becomes Joy, I thought it was sort of ironic that he was talking about getting away from the noise and the distractions of this world and in the background I could hear my iTunes playing, the T.V. from the next room, my roommates talking, my cell phone ringing a few times and horns and screeching of the cars outside.

It's so hard to get away and just find some peaceful quiet time. I am sure a lot of you have been on or at least heard of Trek. There is one day called "Solo Day" where you spend three hours in complete solitude in the mountians and have quiet time. I look back to that time and wish I had more opportunities like that. I feel like our culture today is so fast paced and we never take the time to slow down and enjoy the stars, sunrises and sunsets, the cycle of the seasons, even our own heartbeats. As Tippens said, these rhythms are what makes life possible.

During the summertime one of my favorite things to do is take a blanket and find a spot outside to lay down just to look for shooting stars. I live out in the country so it's always so peaceful and I can usually see 3 or 4 every night. That time is so meaningful to me. During this time is when I have a lot of my quiet time with God. It's hard while your in college when there are so many things going on to take the time to do these things. I feel like we should take advantage of these moments more often and enjoy the beauty of God's creation and find rest in him.

Pilgrim Heart chapter 6 talks about the importance of resting and how it can helps us reach blessedness (beatitude). Striving for excellence is a noble goal but sometimes getting the work done is more important. Separating ourselves from things that “compromise or contaminate” by building walls, knowing when to say no (refusing), and being part of a community can help us live a more peaceful and quiet life while following the path of Jesus. In summary this chapter tells us to “Calm down, relax, and enjoy the gift of life as a child of God” to quote Adam Wells in his response to Tippens Chapter One.

Those are good practices for achieving a peaceful state of mind. By finding contentment in one’s achievement even if it’s not the best we can do, helps relieve the pressure of trying to achieve perfection. However, let’s not equate the idea of “letting go of perfection” to slacking. That is not what Tippens meant. This practice will help us in prioritizing the things that needs to be done. This is hard to achieve in American culture because competition is present in everyday life. If you do not show your best performance you might be rejected in favors of others.
By building walls destined to protect ourselves, we will able to regenerate/refuel the good (passion, excitement to go do the work) in ourselves again. That is to say that if we are too open to the outside world, we might be “contaminated” and become the very thing we are trying to change. I could not find a better factor than the one in the book which is technology. To make it brief, “technology brings the world into our living room.” That is to say that even if we want to keep ourselves from being submerged by what is out there, it is very hard to do so just because technologies such as the Internet and cable TV are so widespread.

Tippens, in chapter 7, talks about the importance of friendship in the church. He makes very valid points about the disappearance of such relationships in modern times, especially among men. He says there are three types of friendship: the love of humanity as a whole, the love for our fellow Christians, and partnership in faith. Most churches do a good job of emphasizing the first two, but the third often goes by the wayside.

Every Christian needs a soul-friend. A spouse is intended by God to be a spiritual partner, a complement to your soul; however, it is vitally important that we build close friendships with others of our own gender as partners in faith. We need friends with whom we can share the squalid little details of our lives, confess our sins to willing ears, then be accountable to keep our paths straight. Without accountability, we are all words with no action, which is what gives the world a reason to call us hypocrites.

Our friends in faith do not replace God nor would they replace our spouses. The point is to have a strong foothold in the lives of other believers where roots can intertwine and strengthen the forest. "Iron sharpens iron." It is so vital to sharpen ourselves constantly and keep our spirits fresh. Our soul-friend does that. It is amazing the strength God administers through the influence of other believers who not only strengthen our resolve, but test our faith.

More Christians need friends who will judge them when they need to be judged, with a heart of compassion and love. Who better to hear it from than from someone who loves you? Let us lay our pride by the wayside, and open ourselves up to the Spirit of God in the life of another. Let us be willing to learn as much as we teach and refill as much as we pour out. Then, maybe we will truly understand the meaning of the word "disciple".

In Chapter 8, Confession: I swear to tell the whole truth, Tippens brings up many interesting points. First of all, he says that it is easy to confess our sins to God but not as easy to confess to other Christians. Why is that? I think it’s easier to confess to God because He already knows what we’re going through. Also He doesn’t respond with hateful words. Whatever we do confess, no matter how bad it is, He is always going to love us and forgive us. On the other hand, when we confess to other Christians their response may not necessarily be the same even though that’s how we should respond when others confess to us. When we confess to others, they may treat you differently because of your sin. At times, I get upset because Christians are perceived as judgmental. But I see why people might think that. I can think of times when someone has confessed their sins to a small group and people would treat them differently than before they knew what they were struggling with. For me personally it is normal for me to confess to God because I can’t hide it from Him anyways but the thought of telling those things to other people scares me. But it’s something we’re called to do. I think that it’s only beneficial if you find the a group of people or even one person that will take the time to listen to you and someone that you can trust won’t treat you any different because of what you told them. I think we should pray for people like that to enter into our lives. From past experiences when I have confessed to a group of people it has brought me closer to them and they were able to hold me accountable. I think it’s a very healthy spiritual disciple that we don’t do near enough.

Tippens explains that we all must find it in our hearts to forgive. He reminds us that “Jesus came to forgive; we have been forgiven by him; we must forgive others.”

I remember that when I was growing up my mother would always tell me “two wrongs don’t make a right.” I think that what she was trying to say is that the failure to forgive someone for their wrong is just as wrong as the original wrong. Tippens says, “First, we should consider that forgiveness is a grace that begins with God, not with us.”

Just as Tippens says in the next section of the chapter, I believe that good can come out of any bad situation, no matter how horrendous it may seem to us. I do not think that God wills bad things to happen to us to teach us a lesson. It just happens. I know that everything I have been through in my life has made me a stronger person. This has happened through God’s grace, and in the strength he has given me, I can forgive.

Tippens tells us though that we must remember to forgive ourselves as well. This is where many of us lacking. We tend to blame ourselves because we have “allowed ourselves” to get hurt. Tippens warns if you do not forgive yourself, this can lead to “guilt and shame,” which can turn into “anger toward others.” I never thought that when I verbally lash out toward others, which does happen sometimes, that I could be from my inability to forgive myself.

In American culture, it is difficult to forgive people, because it is difficult to trust others. We must remember that we can forgive people for how they have wronged us, but trust is earned. Also in American movies, vengeance is the answer to the problems that plague us. We all must remember, “Vengeance never settles the matter” (Tippens 121).

We are constantly reminded that we should always forgive others, even though it may be tough. Sometimes I make it easier to forgive others rather than to forgive myself, for example; one of my friends was killed a couple weeks ago. For some reason I felt like I should be taking his place, he did not diserve to die. Why would a man with great personality and a huge giver and strong in the Lord have to die? Many times I often question God and the reasons that he does things. So maybe understanding why God would have a man die in such a tragic accident as this one. Then I stop myself. Maybe it was because he had already shown his love and been a light to everyone he has been in contact with. I realize it more when I went to the funeral that Wednesday after it happened. All of his friends sat on the stage where the preacher was...however, not all of his friends would fit. In fact half of the people that came to the funeral had to watch everything from a screen in another room. This just shows that maybe he had already done what he was called to do, even though he was very young (age 22) he still reached out to so many people and made an impression on everyone! So sometimes I think we get upset and angry for things, but we need to realize the reasons and forgive the people no matter what went on. I would not know how I would be acting if I new that his friend shot him on purpose. I really don't think that I could be happy with God in that kind of a situation, but luckily it was an accident and we all learn to forgive, but We will NEVER forget!

This chapter is all about listening. Several scriptures are quoted that convey the message of "be still and know that I am God" There is something to be said about spiritual silence. As Tippens says, and I agree, there is a renewing aspect in listening. Take Jesus, John the Baptist, Paul, Moses, or any other effective leader throughout the history of God's people, and you will find times in thier lives when the secluded themselves from the general public to spend time in silence with God. Tippens also points out that there are two types of silence. One is also known as the silence treatement; where one is silent in a negative way to convey a sense of disregard or anger. The other, however, is a very positive thing. Taking time to be silent before God, and to genuinely put forth effort to HEAR the LORD is what this type of silence is about. This type of silence is not just a solitary thing either. There are unlimited blessings to be found by taking part in this discipline. Silence is a good way to engage brothers and sisters in a spiritual experience. But, it is also a good way to find yourself. In meditation with God and yourself, uneffected by worldly sources.

Chapter 11 is about discernment. Tippens points out that often Christians make claims about the course of their lives such as, "God told me to do this," or "God gave me this." Often, such claims come with the assumption that His grace came as a result of our own piety or even a perceived need. The problem with this idea is that, sometimes, those who are just as pious or in greater need do not benefit from the same luxury. Are they less worthy of grace? Did God just choose one over the other? We need discernment to be clear on God's will for us and know when He is calling us to act.

This also applies to the assumption that if we follow God's will for us, we will always be blessed. Following Christ means taking up our cross and often being completely unsure. Even John the Baptist had his doubts about the messiah. We cannot expect that following Christ means easy travel. In fact, it usually means the opposite.

Tippens talks about how we often know we are on the right track by how low we are becoming. The path to Christ often leads downhill, away from riches, glory, and the American dream. That does not mean that owning material possessions is bad, but what we own does not benefit God---only what we give back. If we are blessed with riches, it is so that we can use those riches to His glory, not because God's will is for us to prosper with earthly wealth. God wants us to prosper in a lasting way.

Discernment is vital for listening to God's call. It requires humility and wisdom because without them, we become filled with pride at our own discernment or mistake knowledge for understanding. Both attributes were demonstrated by Jesus on this earth, and we are expected to follow His example. Ultimately, we will benefit tremendously by God's grace.

Chapter twelve talks about the importance of singing during worship time. It shows how the act of singing brings us closer to each other, having the same love and being of the same mind. It also states that “The trouble with talk is that it tends to position the speaker in a place of power. It puts one in charge, which can border on a dangerous conceit when it comes to reporting on the Almighty. When we are singing, there is a sense that we are not in charge.” Adding to that it is obvious that singing is important since the bible contains hundreds of song texts such as the Psalms, which are “highly emotional in nature.”

As we said earlier, the act of singing brings us closer to each other, having the same love and being of the same mind. Singing brings unity within the Church so that it becomes one voice. Adding to that, we each come to worship with our own ideals and experiences. We do not have the same love and same mindset. For example, during a conversation some people might not be honest with their feelings. Some people might just want to appear superior or better than others. Others might be shy to express their true feelings. However, when we come together and sing, for that moment, we are one. As a matter of fact, people do raise their hands and close their eyes when singing.

A factor that might interfere with the value of singing might be deciding what song to sing and how to sing it the right way. There might be a struggle of agreement on what kind of music to sing. Adding to that there is also a struggle on what language to use in worship, which is an important aspect of the songs we sing.

There are two main views of art in the Christian world. People either feel that art is dangerous because it “distracts us from our primary love for God” (157). Or, they feel that art is here for us to enjoy, and it is separate from the church. Other views agree that art and imagination can be “used and abused,” but serve “a distinct spiritual purpose in individuals’ lives and in the church” (158). It is important for us to remember that art and beauty comes from God, and God is the very essence of beauty (Psalms 27:4). Furthermore, according to Ephesians 2:10 we are all “God’s handiwork or compositions” (159). Tippens also reminds us that Jesus was an artist (carpenter) that saw beauty in everything around him. Also Tippens tells us that art can lead others to faith, and most art comes from the artists’ search for something beyond the physical world.

I agree that the ability to create art through film, books, music, singing, acting, drawing, and painting are all gifts from God. Like Tippens, I feel that the temptation to misuse these abilities can be dangerous. In American society, it is common for artists to move away from their original intention, transcendentalism, and toward art for the sake of money. This is why I agree with Tippens that the church should not shun the artists in the congregation. They should welcome the artists with opened arms just as they welcome everyone else. With much of the media in the world it is hard to see the beauty in everything. However, artists have the ability to imagine what the rest of us cannot. This makes them an invaluable asset to their congregation. We must be careful, though, to positively spark the creativity and imagination of our artists of tomorrow. After all, “the Bible itself is a majestic work of art” (165).

I tend to agree with Tippens on this subject. I believe that art, movies, and other creative things can be turned into something bad or often can be misused. This does not mean that we should not accept creativity into our churches. Everyone has a creative side to them rather it be singing, dancing, movie making, or even paintings. These are some talents that God gave us and we should us them and not abuse them. I often feel like as a Christian they are being misused often, however when they are being used to glorify God they do not get as much recognition. I think we should start recognizing those who are glorifying God through their creative abilities instead of making such a big deal about the misuse of it. This is just my view on what I think, I believe that everyone has a creative side to them and I wish that everyone could use it to benefit God and use it to teach others about the love that God shares. God gives us the abilities why don't we use it for good and not evil!

Chapter 14 is about communal feasting. Tippens opens with a lot of talk about memory and the loss of memory. At first I had to do a double take to make sure that I was reading the correct section because my assignment was to read about feasting. But, as the pages wore on, I found that I was indeed reading the correct section and that there is a profound connection between memory and food. Tippens points out that it was once said, to think of your best childhood memories is to think of the things you ate as a child. There is so much truth to be found in that. This concept of the connection found in food and memory also is illustrated in the Bible as well. Often times when a momentous occasion was about to occur, biblical figures joined each other in a feast, or a meal. When the Jewish people still to this day celebrate the Passover, they do so with a feast. When Jesus shared his last evening with his disciples, they did so privately in an upper room together sharing in a meal. Tippens points out that meals make good memories because all of the senses are engaged during a feast. You smell and taste the foods that are there, you see and hear the food as well as the guest at the feast, you touch as you hold hands in prayer over the food, and you engage all of your senses. As the chapter opens Tippens really focuses on the loss of memory by Americans. He compares us to an Alzheimer’s patient. We have forgotten our history because we have moved past the days of feasting. We as a culture move so fast and now place so little emphasis on dinner time with the family and friends we are beginning to lose our sense of identity. We have become no more than a nation of people with amnesia.

Reading for faith is something that I haven't really ever thought about as being a spiritual discipline. But when I think about it, the times I have read a book about Christian faith I have really enjoyed it and have grown from it. For example, this past summer I read Redeeming Love. I had heard so much about that book and everyone that read it loved it. It's a modern day story about Hosea. The main theme throughout the book is that no matter how much you turn away from God, He never turns away from us. He is always there and always will be. At the time I read this book it was really comforting and I was able to grow spiritually from it. It made me turn to the Bible and read Hosea. I never read it before then but after reading it is now my favorite. I taught a ladies class this summer at the church I was interning at about Redeeming Love and the ladies there really responded to it. Although it requires time, reading Christian-centered books is a great way to grow in faith. It can even give you a new perspective on reading the Bible like it did for me. I only wish I had more time for reading books other than the Bible.

Tippens discusses the topic of suffering. He said many things that I have only learned through long years of trying to understand and assist those who suffer as well as get a grasp on it myself.

He said that we must tread lightly when discussing suffering. I agree wholeheartedly. It is so easy to listen to non-Christians who say that they cannot love a God who is not good and our God allows way too much suffering to be that. Very quickly, even Christians become the judge of God, despite how little we know of Him. The Bible says we have a right to question everything, but when we begin to tell God what He is and isn't, we have lost our place as the created, I think.

Tippens also talks about how sometimes those who are suffering don't need answers. If there is one thing I've learned, it is that when I am in pain, I usually do not want to hear about how things could be worse or what I can do better next time. There is a time for that, yes, but sometimes all we, as humans, need is sympathy. We are not perfect, infallible machines that get back up and do better next time. We have to develop into God's image and that means we sometimes need to be given the time to do so.

I absolutely agree that suffering is part of the growing process. I cannot pretend to understand why innocent people suffer horribly. I often find myself being afraid that God will not continue to bless me as I have been. Why do I deserve it? We are not to live in fear, however. God is my rock and my fortress, and He will be near me whatever I suffer. That is much more comfort than I ever deserved to have.

Tippens talks about how seeking God is the ultimate goal of the Christian journey. It is true that science has been able to explain things that were considered mystery or godly in nature but that does not mean that we can take God away from the big picture. Keeping our faith in God and loving him can be challenging for Christians some time. When we lose a close friend or a dearest family member, it is part of the human nature to try to put the blame on God. On the other hand, when we are successful at getting what we want, getting a good job for example, we tend congratulate ourselves.

 I took a class on Religion and Science in Spring 07. We were asked questions such as, what would become of faith and the church if the existence of God were undeniable? Or how is your life as a Christian going to be if somebody came up with an undeniable proof of the existence of God? Those questions made me wonder on the nature of faith and how important it is for Christians to be able to seek after God. Tippens also mentions Pascal’s 3 classes of people, which are, those who have sought God and found, those who are seeking God but have not yet found him, and those who are not seeking. Needless to mention in which class Christians ought to be.

Like I said earlier, it could be challenging for Christians to follow God. We are easily distracted by the material world and often we find ourselves not being able to dedicate time for meditation or contemplation on our faith. As said in chapter 17, “All Christianity concentrates on the man at the cross roads.” That is to say that every Christians have to face the decision process of seeking God or not EVERY TIME.

Buy Pilgrim Heart: The Way of Jesus in Everyday Life by Darryl Tippens here.