JRF's #11 - The Grace and Truth Paradox by Randy Alcorn

Webster's dictionary describes a paradox as "a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true"

The concept of boldly proclaiming truth all the while being gracious with those who reject it seems to fit that definition precisely.

Walk the path of following Christ for any length of time and you will experience the tension of the Grace and Truth Paradox.  Try to share the Gospel with an unbeliever or confront your believing friend about an unrepentant sin and you will feel the tug to either sugarcoat the truth or harshly hurl it down from your thundercloud.  Whole denominations and sub-denominations of Christianity have resulted from this tension and a failure to maintain Biblical balance.  But this is not a balance of 50/50 but 100/100.  Grace and Truth are not in competition with each other, but Biblically speaking, are in fact mutually dependent.

When we look at Christ we see Grace and Truth perfectly and harmoniously embodied (John 1:14,17).  In this short book Randy Alcorn explores some of the reasons why we so easily fail to maintain and show grace and truth simultationeously, warns us of the fallout caused by sacrificing one for the other, and points us to Jesus as the source, motivation, and power for faithfully living out both.

Alcorn has a way of making difficult concepts palatable, especially through real life examples of how the grace and truth paradox has played out in his own life.  I found myself convicted and encouraged many times while reading this.

I trust you will as well.

Ally's #30: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

So, a couple friends told me that the third book in this series was so-so, but I have to say I like it the best. It's difficult to keep a trilogy going strong, and Suzanne Collins has done a decent job. The lull for me was the first half of the second book, where Katniss can't figure out whether she loves Gale or Peeta more. Barf.

Mockingjay opens with Katniss sorting through the rubble of what is left of District 12. After yet another act of rebellion against the Capitol and President Snow, Katniss is airlifted out of the arena with a few of her opponents. The goal is to preserve the face of the revolution, the Mockingjay.

While safely tucked away in the humungous bunker that is District 13 with the other refugees from District 12, Katniss has the responsibility of maintaining her mental health, her physical prowess, and creating propaganda clips against the Capitol to incite continued rebellion.

In my head I hear President Snow's words, spoken the morning I was to begin the Victory Tour. "Katniss Everdeen, the girl who was on fire, you have provided a spark that, left unattended, may grow to an inferno that destroys Panem."

Indeed she does, and those orchestrating the rebellion in District 13 know that Katniss is a vital key to convince those who have been beaten down for decades that risking their lives is worth the freedom they can obtain as a unified force. President Coin, along with some defectors from the Capitol, find that Katniss is not as easy to control as they think. Her patience with those who would use her as a pawn and threaten her sanity has worn paper thin.

This story is full of battles, heart-wrenching twists, and finally, at long last, Katniss gains some resolution in her relationships with Gale and Peeta. But not before some huge fissures appear between her and each of the boys. I like that the war doesn't have a neat little bow wrapped around it at the end. Thousands of people die, many in horrendous ways. It was hard to read about the demise of characters for whom I had developed an appreciation. But their death was not in vain, as the Capitol falls and Panem is given another chance at life.

Ally's #29: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

A gracious friend let me borrow the last two books in the Hunger Games series...I can't say I didn't immediately open the book the second I got home :) I think I'm going to work hard to never have to pay for another novel again.

Anyhoo, I'd have to agree with previous reviews that the first half is rather "love triangle" heavy. In my review of the first book, I included this quote:

 "For the first time, I allow myself to truly think about the possibility that I might make it home. To fame. To wealth. To my own house in the Victor's Village. My mother and Prim would live there with me. No more fear of hunger. A new kind of freedom. But then...what? What would my life be like on a daily basis? Most of it has been consumed with the acquisition of food. Take that away and I'm not really sure who I am, what my identity is."

Indeed, Katniss spends much of book two figuring out what her identity is. As a victor, she thinks she can breath easy, but as the time of the victory tour draws near, Katniss receives and unexpected and somewhat frightening visit from President Snow. The man reeks of blood and chemically enhanced roses--perhaps the latter to cover the scent of the former that seems to ooze from his every pore. Since Katniss' act of rebellion in threatening to deny the Capitol of a Hunger Games victor, a seed has been planted and thoughts of revolt are sprouting up all over the districts. Threats are made, and Katniss aims to pacify was she unintentionally started, but by the end of the story, she's fully embraced that she is a symbol of revolution.

There's also some subtle foreshadowing in Peeta's potential future as the mouthpiece of the revolution. The harder the Capitol presses in on Katniss and the people of Panem, the more convinced she is that Peeta is the very person to influence the masses with his goodness and endearing words. Katniss is resolved to lay down her life for Peeta, the same way he risked everything to protect her in the arena, to preserve him as a leader for Panem.

I guess I can't expect too much from a girl of seventeen, but there were times in the story where I just wanted to shake Katniss for being so wishy-washy with the men in her life. I suppose when a person is forced to bear responsibilities and weights far beyond their age, they limp behind in other areas.

I don't want to spoil the book and/or future movie for anyone, so I'll just say that the second half is a whole heap of unexpected turns. The celebration of the 75th Hunger Games has rule adjustments beyond what anyone could have expected. The Capitol is intent on proving it's power and quelling any attempt to challenge it in the future.

Ally's #28: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I saw the movie before reading the book, and I was surprised by how closely they followed the original. Since they are so remarkably similar, I'll go ahead and focus on the few differences.

The first thing I noticed was how choppy some of the writing was. I think the author was deliberately leaving out the subject of certain sentences to emphasize Katniss' hardness and intense practicality. It was such a successful tactic that I began to wonder why the Katniss on the big screen seemed a little soft. I suppose it's hard to portray everything that runs through a character's mind without having a ridiculous amount of dialogue.

The second thing I noticed was that I got a little more history behind Panem, the rebellion, and details like the tessarae (rations given out for more slips submitted to the reaping bowl). As far as I can recall, the reason for the   hunger games was not fully fleshed out in the film. In the book, we get a lot more information about the plight of the districts, particularly District 12. I also got to read more about the Everdeen family, which I enjoyed--especially the part about Prim and her mother being gifted apothecaries and nurses.

Finally, I learned more about Peeta's devotion for Katniss. It's a bummer to see her so determined to convince herself that Peeta was only playing to the audience, that Gale's invitation to run away with her has no relational strings attached, that she'll never get married, and that she'll never have children. I imagine the thought of seeing little ones potentially starve to death and suffering the anxiety of the yearly reaping would be more than a mother could bear.

Here are some quotes that made me particularly sad (aside from all the children running around slaughtering each other for sport):

"Gale and I agreed that if we have to choose between dying of hunger and a bullet in the head, the bullet would be much quicker."

"In our world, I rank music somewhere between hair ribbons and rainbows in terms of usefulness. At least a rainbow gives you a tip about the weather. (p. 211) It strikes me that my own reluctance to sing, my own dismissal of music might not really be that I think it's a waste of time. It might be because it reminds me too much of my father. (p.301)"

"For the first time, I allow myself to truly think about the possibility that I might make it home. To fame. To wealth. To my own house in the Victor's Village. My mother and Prim would live there with me. No more fear of hunger. A new kind of freedom. But then...what? What would my life be like on a daily basis? Most of it has been consumed with the acquisition of food. Take that away and I'm not really sure who I am, what my identity is."

Ally's #27: The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis

I just wrote a nice, long review of The Last Battle, and my computer was kind enough to delete it :( I'm too lazy and annoyed to re-write it, so this is it...

The last book in the Narnia series is quite unique. There is so much confusion and deception, that it feels unlike any of the other stories. In previous books, the White Witch is our primary foe, but in The Last Battle, a number of characters come to the forefront as either fasle Aslans, quasi-Aslans, or anti-Aslans. The story is so tumultuous, that I rarely felt at ease reading through it. It lacked the restful, whimsical chapters that the other stories held.

In reading through this series chronologically, I noticed that the theology surrounding Aslan got increasingly complex. I was left with a few questions about the final scenes in The Last Battle. First, a Calormen soldier is welcomed into the real Narnia (Lewis' version of heaven?) after a lifetime of worshipping Tash, and Aslan's lengthy speech to him is quite perplexing. Likewise, I'm confused by the little troop of Dwarfs who are in the new Narnia, but are imprisoned in the darkness of their minds, unwilling (and unable?) to see the beauty around them.

While this last book was intense, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader still takes the cake as my favorite.

JRF's #9 - Culture Smart: Indonesia by Graham Saunders

In preparation for our first trip to Indonesia, our team read and discussed this book.  We didn't know how helpful it was until we got there, but now that we have gone and returned I am grateful for this small little book and would recommend the series for wherever you travel to next.  It covers what you would expect from this kind of book: history, culture, religion, and travel tips.

It was a good exercise reading through this book with a missions mindset looking for cultural bridges and barriers to the Gospel.  For instance...it was very helpful to know that although the majority of Indonesians would identify as Muslim, the basic underlying worldview is predominately a mix of Hinduism and Animism.

It was also nice to have some tips on how to keep myself from looking like a complete idiot and a walking cultural faux pas.  I need all the help I can get in that area.

Yeah, so this book wasn't a classic piece of literature or theological treatise.  But it was helpful...and I read it...so I'm counting it!