This book is the thirteenth book in a series of paperback and hardback books continuing the Monk series. Alice and I really have enjoyed reading these books and find that they are filled with laughs and clean humor. The books are all "narrated" by Natalie and remind us of the brilliant yet quirky mind of Monk.
This book finds Monk and Natalie travelling to Summit, New Jersey, to help Randy Disher with crimes that he faces in his new "charge." Randy "left" the series when it ended and joined Sharona (Monk's former nurse) as police chief in Summit. In this book he has Monk assist in solving a series of burglaries and then a murder mystery. The narrative includes a side trip to New York and finds Monk and Natalie "in uniform" to assist Randy in his work.
It ends with things "up in the air" as Monk and Natalie consider continuing their work in New Jersey.
Hey, it's harmless fun and a nice way to spend a few days in reading this wonderful book.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
"I Heard the Owl Call My Name" (book) by Margaret Craven
This is a book review for "I Heard the Owl Call My Name" by Margaret Craven (Doubleday, 1973)
I think I read this book about 25 years ago after seeing part of the movie which was on CBS. I read it again in February of 2012. It is a very interesting and profound read about an Episcopalian "vicar" who unknowingly has 2-3 years to live and who is assigned by his bishop to serve Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest. Vicar Mark Brian's church is in Kingcome and in all humility he endears himself to the people a step at a time. He does not dismiss the old culture of totems and pot latch but he sees that the change in the life of this people is far more than spiritual.
The children of the community are sent to boarding school to get an education but their parents find that in doing so the younger generation becomes disenchanted with their way of life. Mark is befriended by Jim and learns many things from him. He becomes part of the village.
One of the legends is that when a person hears an owl calling his name the inevitability of death is close. In that moment Brian recalls he medical tests he took and the bishop's grim assignment for him to serve Kingcome.
The writing is engaging and memorable. I notice that the book is used as reading material in many schools. An example of the unique insight of the author concerns the atheist teacher who teaches the very young but who refuses to become a part of the community. When he sees the preparations for the vicar's funeral the narration is memorable: "In his tiny house the teacher heard the running footfalls on the path to the river bank, and he went quickly to the door and could not open it. To join the others was to care and to care was to live and to suffer." (page 164) The vicar cared and thus he suffered with a richness that made life meaningful.
I think I read this book about 25 years ago after seeing part of the movie which was on CBS. I read it again in February of 2012. It is a very interesting and profound read about an Episcopalian "vicar" who unknowingly has 2-3 years to live and who is assigned by his bishop to serve Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest. Vicar Mark Brian's church is in Kingcome and in all humility he endears himself to the people a step at a time. He does not dismiss the old culture of totems and pot latch but he sees that the change in the life of this people is far more than spiritual.
The children of the community are sent to boarding school to get an education but their parents find that in doing so the younger generation becomes disenchanted with their way of life. Mark is befriended by Jim and learns many things from him. He becomes part of the village.
One of the legends is that when a person hears an owl calling his name the inevitability of death is close. In that moment Brian recalls he medical tests he took and the bishop's grim assignment for him to serve Kingcome.
The writing is engaging and memorable. I notice that the book is used as reading material in many schools. An example of the unique insight of the author concerns the atheist teacher who teaches the very young but who refuses to become a part of the community. When he sees the preparations for the vicar's funeral the narration is memorable: "In his tiny house the teacher heard the running footfalls on the path to the river bank, and he went quickly to the door and could not open it. To join the others was to care and to care was to live and to suffer." (page 164) The vicar cared and thus he suffered with a richness that made life meaningful.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Excellence in Preaching
"Excellence in Preaching" by Simon Vibert (published by InterVarsity Press, 2011)
This book by Simon Vibert is a book about twelve "famous" preachers.
As part of our work as pastors we attend a monthly meeting of pastors from our denomination in what is called a "circuit." Also, we have two larger gatherings a year which are called regional and general pastor's conferences which consist of 100-200 fellow clergy. Over the years I have always felt that every one of these meetings should include some kind of focus or topic on preaching. Even though the work of pastoral ministry involves many different areas of work, we find ourselves preaching at least once a week and often more than that. To me, pastors need help with preaching. I know I do.
That is also the thrust of Vibert's book. He sets out to examine these twelve famous preachers after he acknowledges that Jesus is the primary "preacher." I enjoyed this book and found it very helpful, even though I had not heard of most of these preachers. I found it interesting that Vibert noted that some preachers are completed "manuscript free" while others write out and preach their sermons "word for word." He found that both styles, though completely different from each other, can be viable and helpful.
Another piece of information that he shared was that many of these preachers often preach 45 minute sermons and some preach sixty minute sermons. I wonder what our congregations would feel about that.
Many of the preachers highlighted in this book are part of very large churches but I still felt that the information that he shared applies to preachers serving churches of all sizes.
I highly recommend this book and recommend that preachers continue to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest all they can to stay relevant and helpful in their preaching.
This book by Simon Vibert is a book about twelve "famous" preachers.
As part of our work as pastors we attend a monthly meeting of pastors from our denomination in what is called a "circuit." Also, we have two larger gatherings a year which are called regional and general pastor's conferences which consist of 100-200 fellow clergy. Over the years I have always felt that every one of these meetings should include some kind of focus or topic on preaching. Even though the work of pastoral ministry involves many different areas of work, we find ourselves preaching at least once a week and often more than that. To me, pastors need help with preaching. I know I do.
That is also the thrust of Vibert's book. He sets out to examine these twelve famous preachers after he acknowledges that Jesus is the primary "preacher." I enjoyed this book and found it very helpful, even though I had not heard of most of these preachers. I found it interesting that Vibert noted that some preachers are completed "manuscript free" while others write out and preach their sermons "word for word." He found that both styles, though completely different from each other, can be viable and helpful.
Another piece of information that he shared was that many of these preachers often preach 45 minute sermons and some preach sixty minute sermons. I wonder what our congregations would feel about that.
Many of the preachers highlighted in this book are part of very large churches but I still felt that the information that he shared applies to preachers serving churches of all sizes.
I highly recommend this book and recommend that preachers continue to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest all they can to stay relevant and helpful in their preaching.
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