On Story Bent

I really love this one. Chester has a little intro to each daily reading, usually about half a page, if that -- and it's just clear and succinct and helpful and gets you right into the writing from the earlier saint. The selections are mainly from early church fathers and Puritans, but not exclusively. The latest figure is Spurgeon. I also loved the inclusion of Catherine Parr and Anne Dutton. It's so profitable to read from our elder brothers and sisters in the faith. It fits to read perfectly during Lent, but isn't specifically Lenten in its content (at least when I think in terms of a focus on fasting or good works, etc.), but it is beautifully focused on reawakening our hearts with a deeper spiritual preparation for Easter. The weekly headings are: First Week: The Light of Love Second Week: The Welcome of Grace Third Week: The Exchange of Places Fourth Week: The Assurance of Faith Fifth Week: The Gift of Christ Sixth Week (Holy Week and Easter Sunday): The Victory of Go...

"The exciting quality of Christmas rests on an ancient and admitted paradox. It rests upon the paradox that the power and center of the whole universe may be found in some seemingly small matter, that the stars in their courses may move like a moving wheel around the neglected outhouse of an inn." G.K. Chesterton ~ (with some slight adjustments, reposting the review below from 2023) "Experience the warmth of Christmas through the winsome wit and wisdom of beloved writer G.K. Chesterton. This devotional -- perfect for the Christmas season -- includes selections of Chesterton's writings, accompanied with commentary, Scripture readings, and reflections. Be encouraged by Chesterton's insight, charmed by the Victorian-inspired artwork, and delighted by the traditional English recipes. Make Chesterton's poetry, short stories, and essays a part of your Christmas tradition! A festive celebration of childlike wonder..." Fresh off the press, my sister sent me this...

(reposting from 2023) I read this book over this past Advent and I'm so glad I did! It's just beautiful... Thoughtful, reflective, contemplative, and deeply encouraging.  We always want to be on guard against experiential eisegesis (i.e. exegeting a text through our own experiences) and/or reading ourselves into a passage and -- given the premise for this particular title -- I kept an especially scrutinizing eye open for that throughout. At the same time -- given all the rich complexities of our existence -- there is a place for colloquial communication, and God's words and ways should also be on our tongue night and day, spilling over... So taking all the above into consideration, all in all I think the author does a good job using each beginning anecdote as a springboard to the biblical text.  She does an excellent job continually pointing us back to Christ, to what He  has  done, what He has already fulfilled -- and is doing still. It brought me to tears in numero...