Book Review of Isaiah and the Worry Pack

 

Isaiah and the Worry Pack

by Ruth Goring

Illustrated by Pamela C. Rice

IVP Kids

ISBN 978-1-5140-0106-6

Reviewed by Clint Walker

    Isaiah has a lot of concerns that are heavy on his heart. Will his mom make enough money? Can his dad do alright living away from the rest of the family? Will his sister ever behave? Will he ever be able to sleep? So he carries his concerns with him everywhere, like a backpack full of heavy blocks.

    One night his mother comes to check in on him. After listening to his worrries, she leads him in an imaginative prayer exercise where he encounters the loving and risen Christ. Jesus helps Isaiah lean how to deal with his worries.

    Written with a child's ear in mind, the author shares a story of compassion, thoughtfulness and deep spirituality that relates to the lives that kids are living every day. The book provides a good story for kids, and some helpful tools for the adults who are reading with their kids in helping their kids bring their burdens to Christ.

    What a beautiful book.

Book Review of Saint Nicholas the Giftgiver

 

Saint Nicholas the Caregiver

Retold and Illustrated by Ned Bustard

IVP Kids

ISBN 978-1-5140-0180-6

This book is a deftly written story weaving the historical story of Saint Nicholas, and some of the modern legends of Santa Claus. Careful to on one hand not destroy a child's Christmas by saying "there is no Santa", while on the other hand describing the modern Santa more mythologically, author Ned Bustard seeks to ground all Saint Nicolas stories as a reflection of the gospel. 

The illustration work is well done. It at times refllects the story at face value, while at other times the drawings add to the story reflected in the written word. 

Subtle Christian symbolism permeates the artwork. Stars are reflected throughout the book. This connects with the author's efforts to tie the generosity of Saint Nicolas to the wise men. Also, the Trinitarian symbolism in the final drawing is just brilliant. 

I highly recommend this book to families. I would suggest, as we are now at Epiphany eve, that people buy the book this year, so they are prepared with it when Advent begins next year.

How John the Baptist explains repentance

 John the Baptist, most people believe, was an Essene. This means that the community that formed him and trained him for ministry was a community that valued withdrawl from societal institutions and norms in order to be faithful to God's call on their life. Although we have no proof of John the Baptist's Essene bona fides, his appearance and ministry tends to demonstrate and affinity for Essene ideals. Essene's were in the desert preparing for the Messiah and the end of the world as they knew it. They had baths for regular ceremonial washings of repentance and purity. They dressed and acted a little different. They did life on the geographic and social periphory of ancient Israel. All of this seems to be reflected in the life of John the Baptist. 

Yet, according to Luke 3,when people were baptized with John's baptistm of repentance, and they asked John what they should do, John always gave them answers that encouraged them to return to their community and vocation. As they did so, John encoruaged them to practice their vocations in different ways. To the tax collectors, they were told not to extort money. To the soldiers, they were told not to abuse their power. To the rest, they were told to share their extra clothing with those less fortunate. 

John called the repentant to simple, practical acts of engagement in community and culture, not withdrawl from culture as a sign of loyal faithfulness and true repentance. This has important ways of challenging us today. 

There is a part of Christian culture that thinks that we should withdrawl into homeschooling, homechurching, home working as an act of faith. These same people guard their associations with others. Yet, in Scripture, the model of cultural withdrawl in taking on the role of the prophet encourages others to engage community and culture faithfully in order to give glory to God. 

Something to consider here.