Book Review of "Killing Kennedy" by Bill O'Reilly

BOOK REVIEW

The Rev. Willis R. Schwichtenberg, Pastor

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Freeport, Illinois

“Killing Kennedy” by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard, published by MacMillan Audio, 2012; ISBN 978-1-4272-2684-6

Most people who are over 50 years of age probably remember what they were doing when they heard the news about the assassination of John F. Kennedy.  I was sitting in study hall as a senior in high school at Waterville-Elysian High School in Minnesota.  The news was piped through the PA system and we listened with great surprise and sadness as the events unfolded that Friday afternoon in November of 1963.

I have always been interested in the Kennedy assassination and probably have a dozen books and dozens more articles on the subject.  While I realized that Bill O’Reilly might not be plowing any new ground on the subject, I was nonetheless interested in this book.

Surprisingly, O’Reilly spends about two thirds of the book on giving extensive background about the so-called “Camelot” years.  As he relates the story of Kennedy, beginning with his presidency, he also relates what Lee Harvey Oswald, the pro-Communist assassin, was doing as the story unfolds. 

He also spends much time on the background intrigue of Kennedy’s womanizing and the tension in the White House between Lyndon Johnson, Robert Kennedy, and many of the other “players.”  Some might feel that O’Reilly has a political “agenda” about Kennedy but O’Reilly shares the fact that he was actually related to Kennedy.

The book is an interesting “read” but I was a bit surprised at how little information is shared about the assassination itself.  After all, the book was titled, “Killing Kennedy.”  The book does relate some very fine history about the botched Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban missile crisis.  Also, when the author spends time sharing the genuine love and respect that JFK and Jackie had for each other, it is a very helpful read.

I felt that O’Reilly’s previous book on “Killing Lincoln” was much more to the point.  I was not disappointed in this book, however, and I recommend it, especially for younger readers who may not know some of this history and who may be turned off by the “National Enquirer” mentality of many conspiracy theory buffs. 

The assassination of JFK did change the world and even today we continue to “harvest” the seeds that were sown when Camelot “died.”

Book Review of "The Harbinger" by Jonathan Cahn

BOOK REVIEW

The Rev. Willis R. Schwichtenberg, Pastor

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Freeport, Illinois

“The Harbinger” by Jonathan Cahn, published by Front Line, 2012, ISBN 978-1-61638-610-8.

Years ago conspiracy theory ideas were sort of fun and interesting to consider.  I guess that most of them started with the JFK assassination but there were lots of conspiracy theory ideas long before this tragic event.

When I think of conspiracy theories I think of this book that I finished recently--“The Harbinger.”  The book is “sort of” a novel based on a verse from the book of Isaiah (9:10) with suggestions that the events of 9/1/1 and beyond and especially the building of the 9/1/1 memorial(s) in New York City are all forecast in Biblical prophecy.  Furthermore, this prophecy is finally being understood by a mysterious character in this book who reveals the nine “harbingers” to the heroine and, ultimately, to the author and all who care to listen.  The book admits that it is a novel but claims that everything covered in it is true.  I confess.  I’m skeptical.

The book suggests that even the stock market crash of 2008 and similar recent events such as national politics, elections, and personalities are all forecast in Biblical prophecy.  The somewhat innocuous verse in Isaiah 9:10, “The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones, the sycamores have been cut down but we will put cedars in their place,” suggest that God does not want a fancy memorial for 9/1/1 but wants people’s hearts to turn instead. 

While we would agree with this thought, I am reluctant to agree that, in the words on the cover of the book, that this is “the ancient mystery that holds the secret of America’s future.”  America’s future is certainly in the hands of our God and Lord and America’s future will only be determined by our willingness to repent and believe the Gospel.  Hey, maybe this is what this book is saying.  I hope so.  I just don’t like conspiracy theories.

If you want to read the book, check with me and I’ll loan it to you.  You might like it but you don’t have to spend the money.

Book Review of "Cross Roads" by Wm. Paul Young

BOOK REVIEW

The Rev. Willis R. Schwichtenberg, Pastor

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Freeport, Illinois

“Cross Roads,”by Wm. Paul Young published by Faith Words, 2012, ISBN 978-1-4555-1604-9.

Like its predecessor book, “The Shack,” this book might end up being savaged by critics for its unusual depiction of God but, in reflection,  I think it is strange, however, that few people overly criticize Dante, John Bunyan or C.S. Lewis for their “novel” approaches to things religious.  Perhaps Wm. Young might join this pantheon of classic religious novelists.

The hero (or antihero) of the book is Anthony Spencer who is a very wealthy and materialistic businessman who has little to do emotionally with his family and friends.  He has a couple of failed marriages to the same person and only married her a second time to exact some kind of monetary revenge.  He lost a son when he was very young and Spencer never treats his daughter properly.  He doesn’t believe in God and after a fall he is left in a coma in the hospital.  He wakes up and finds that God believes in him and he “meets” Jesus, the Holy Spirit (in the form of a Lakota woman) and recognizes the presence of “papa God.”

He travels through landscape regions which are, in essence, his very being and he “returns” to the world by literally being in certain people’s heads.  It reminds me a bit of the movie “Being John Malkovich” but it is done much better.  Spencer (“Tony”) is able to examine his life and, ultimately, is given the chance to make things right with his former wife, daughter, brother, and a number of people with whom he connects.

Given the chance to “choose” to physically heal one person, he is challenged to consider many possibilities to whom he might give this unique once in a lifetime gift.  The reader finds himself knowing, but still wondering, to whom he will give this gift.  He also manages to right many wrongs due to his unusual reflections on God’s mercy and grace.

I found the book a pleasant read and you cannot help but get closer to God as you turn the pages and think about how real God is and how involved He is in our world.  The book is not a book on theology, though there are many pleasant theological insights.  In my opinion, it defends some very basic and very orthodox concepts about our Triune God. 

For example, when Tony is talking with Jesus He finds that Jesus, according to His human nature, is dependent on the omniscience of God the Father.  Though Jesus “can know” all things He willingly sets aside His divine nature and “waits” for God to reveal all things.  The patience of the Jesus and Holy Spirit characters is outstanding. 

This book is a great inspirational read that gives glory to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  If you take the time to read it, please don’t bog down and assume that it is some kind of Biblical treatise.