Saturday, November 09, 2013

Book Review of Consider the Birds by Debbie Blue



Consider the Birds: A Provocative Guide to Birds of the Bible
by Debbie Blue
ISBN 978-1-4267-4950-6
Abingdon Press
214 pages

This is a thoughtful, interesting little book by someone who loves the power of symbolism, the word of God, and has a good understanding of birds both in nature and in how people have perceived different kinds of birds throughout human history.

Blue's reflection, as the subtitle suggests, is neither traditional or polite. Instead, it is forthright, at times irreverent, and always thought provoking. Blue specializes in earthy writing that is never vulgar, and yet always conversational and down to earth.

A person approaching this book as a bird lover might be disappointed. This book is much more about human spirituality and human experience than it is about winged creatures' part of God's redemptive plan. My favorite chapter is about the cock. In this chapter is a discussion about masculinity, confidence, and combat, and how that relates to the call of Christ and the kind of people Jesus asks his followers to be. Each page seems to have an eye-raising thought that either brings out laughter or a raised eyebrow.

I love this book! Would be great to study in a small group some time!

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