‘A Matter of Character’ by Robin Lee Hatcher – Book Review

One of the most popular and well-known authors in the Christian Fiction genre is Robin Lee Hatcher.  Her latest release is ‘A Matter of Character.’

Here is the book trailer for this entertaining novel, featuring Robin sharing the story:

Here is a synopsis of the book from the back cover:

          Who says a woman can't keep a secret? 

It’s 1918 and Daphne McKinley, heiress to a small fortune, has found contentment in the town of Bethlehem Spring, Idaho.  But Daphne has a secret.

A series of dime novels loosely based on local lore and featuring a nefarious villain known as Rawhide Rick has enjoyed modest popularity among readers.  Nobody in Bethlehem Springs knows the man behind the stories… except Daphne.

When newspaperman Joshua Crawford comes to town searching for the man who sullied the good name of his grandfather, Daphne finds herself at a crossroads, reassessing the power of her words, re-thinking how best to honor her gifts, and reconsidering what she wants out of life.

Here is the biography of the author:

Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of over sixty novels, including A Vote of Confidence, When Love Blooms, Wagered Heart, Return to Me, and Catching Katie, named one of the Best Books of 2004 by Library Journal.  Winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, two RITA Awards for Inspirational Romance, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award.  Robin lives in Idaho.

Daphne caught sight of a new man in town.  Here she describes him:

As Sara disappeared into the restaurant kitchen, the front door opened, letting in the cool night air along with a man Daphne had never seen before.  He was tall, t least six feet, perhaps a little more.  He had brown hair that was shaggy near his collar, and unless the poor light in the restaurant deceived her, there was the shadow of a beard under the skin of his jaw and upper lip. (p. 20)

Daphne learned the gentleman was Joshua Crawford, the new managing editor of the New Bethlehem Daily Herald newspaper.  Joshua relocated from St. Louis to meet D.B. Morgan, the author of a series of book which had a character named Richard Terrell, aka Rawhide Rick.  That was the real name of his grandfather (who had passed away 14 years prior to the events of this novel), and he disagreed with the characterization of the man he remembered as Godly and honorable.  Joshua wanted to confront Mr. Morgan, and force that author to set the report straight.

What Joshua did not consider that D.B. Morgan was a woman.  Daphne explained her rationale for keeping her real identity a secret:

The only way to make certain that the true identity of D.B. Morgan remained a secret was to be the only person who knew the truth.  Someday, perhaps, she would tell others.  But not yet.

She couldn’t imagine how Morgan [her brother] would react if he learned she’d authored a series of dime novels filled with buffalo, horses, trappers, cattle rustlers, mining disasters, wilds Indians, gunfighters, and a hanging judge.  But she was quite certain he wouldn’t think it a proper occupation for his sister.  She’d been groomed for a much different life.  There were certain things expected of a well-educated, unmarried young woman of large fortune.  Writing dime novels wasn’t among them.  (p. 29)

Intertwined throughout the novel are diary entries from Joshua’s grandfather, Mr. Terrell.  The entries tell of his transformation from a money-hungry man who would do whatever it took to make a fortune to a husband and father who loved Jesus.  In the entry dated September 1, 1904, Joshua granddad wrote directly to his grandson:

Put God first, Joshua, and He will guide your steps throughout your life.  Listen to His voice, heed His corrections, and you will avoid the many traps and snares of this world.  I hope reading this record of my past did not discourage you or make you feel less of me.  I hope you will see in it the power of the Almighty to change a life, to turn all things to good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

And now, may the Lord bless thee, and keep thee.  May the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee.  May He life up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.  Amen.

Until we meet again in Heaven, I remain

Your loving Grandfather  (p. 255)

Joshua questioned Daphne as to whether she knew D.B. Morgan.  She had denied any knowledge, and had this thought about it:

Joshua Crawford had come all this way because he felt his grandfather’s good name had been besmirched in the novels of D.B. Morgan.  Her novels.  She hadn’t actually lied when she said there was nothing she could tell him.  She wasn’t ready to reveal that she was D.B. Morgan.  Her work had been a secret from the start.  How could she tell him and not everyone else?  Or at least tell her family and close friends.  (p. 93)

Eventually, Daphne realized the right thing to do was to honestly admit to Joshua that she was indeed writing under the pseudonym of D.B. Morgan.  He had had issues with his temper, and she did express anger about her betrayal to her. 

Joshua discovered there were two brothers who knew his grandfather when he lived in the area many years before.  Despite his upset, Joshua allowed Daphne to accompany him to visit the brother in search of answers about his beloved grandfather.

On the way back to Bethlehem Springs, Daphne’s motor car broke down.  A snowstorm came in and stranded Daphne and Joshua in the middle of nowhere.  Fortunately, there was an uninhabited cabin where they were able to take refuge.  While there, Daphne became very ill.  Joshua helped nurse her back to health.  The initial spark which they both felt re-ignited.   

I truly enjoyed this entertaining novel!  The main character, Daphne, is engaging and quite likeable, and the other main characters are also quite interesting.  Robin writes characters that are multidimensional and interesting; you’d want to know them yourself! 

This is the final title in the ‘The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs’ series: the one two were ‘A Vote of Confidence’ and ‘Fit to be Tied.’  This book stands alone, but Robin’s writing is so engaging that I would like to go back and read those as well. This is the first Robin Lee Hatcher book I have read, and I have no doubt that it will not be my last! 

You can order this book here.

This book was provided by Zondervan for review purposes.  I am proud to be participating in the Blog Tour Spot blog tour with these other bloggers.

Have you read any books by Robin?  If so, which one is your favorite?  And what is it you liked about it? 

‘Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels’ by Tullian Tchividjian – Book Review and Giveaways

One of the stories in the Bible that has always been very intriguing to me is the story of the prophet Jonah.  And, in the last few years, the Lord has been having me embark on a long-lasting study of grace.  The latest book by Tullian Tchividjian, ‘Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels’ uses Jonah as an example of God’s amazing grace.

Here is the synopsis of the book from the dust sleeve cover:

Many of us think we know God’s heart better than we do.  We think we have a good handle on what should and should not be acceptable to God.  But God has never conformed to our faulty assumptions about his character.  Indeed, his compassion and pardon are utterly shocking in their lavish abundance – a lesson learned the hard way by one man who kept resisting God’s grace in whatever way he could.

The man’s name isn’t new.  It’s Jonah, the famous Old Testament prophet.  We find his story compelling because all of us hesitate to follow God from time to time; Jonah’s story has been our own.  However, Tullian Tchividjian shows that the emphasis of our story is not on our disobedience, but on God’s persistent grace.

This powerful journey through unforgettable events and imagery reveals how God relentlessly pursues rebels, a category that ultimately includes everyone, though he has every right and plenty of reasons to give up on us all.

Encounter the story of Jonah in a gripping presentation that will open your eyes wider than ever to God’s relentless, purposeful, and inexhaustible grace.

And here is the biography of the author:

Tullian Tchividjian (MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando) is pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Tullian is a dynamic communicator who is well-known for his ability to passionately present God's deep, unchanging truth to our changing world in a fresh and compelling way.  He is a contributing editor of Leadership Journal and the author of Unfashionable: Making a Difference in the World by Being Different and Do I Know God? Finding Uncertainty in Life’s Most Important Relationships.  His sermons are broadcast daily on the radio program Godward Living.  An avid surfer, he and his wife Kim are the proud parents of Gabe, Nate, and Genna. 

He also happens to be the grandson of Billy and Ruth Graham.

Pastor Tullian reviews the book of Jonah, verse by verse.  He compares Jonah’s story with that of Jesus.  Here he states his case:

For good reason, Christian people love the word gospel.  Tragically, however,        multitudes of Christians fail to grasp what the gospel fully is.  In fact, I’m convinced there’s just as much confusion inside the church as there is outside it regarding the gospel’s true meaning – sometimes even in churches where the gospel is regularly preached and taught.

To get a better grip on the gospel, maybe what we need most is to be startled…surprised…even shocked by it.

That’s exactly what I believe our situation calls for.  And one of the best books in the Bible for delivering such a jolt has to be Jonah – a story full of “shocking surprises and sensational elements,” as one commentary puts it.

And now, already, you’re surprised.  You’re astonished that any author would offer a book-length look at Jonah for a popular audience.  But for me, it was through probing the story of Jonah that I came face-to-face with one of the most life-changing truths in my experience.  I came to grips with the fact that the gospel is not just for non-Christians but also for Christian. (p. 15)

Pastor Tchividjian explains why he thinks the two stories are similar:

…Jonah is a storied presentation of the gospel, a story of sin and grace, of desperation and deliverance.  It reveals the fact that while you and I are great sinners, God is a great Savior, and that while our sin reaches far, his grace reaches farther.  This story shows that God is in the business of relentlessly pursuing rebels like us and that he comes after us not to angrily strip away our freedom but to affectionately strip away our slavery so we might become truly free. (pp. 18-19)

When taking a look at the possible reason why Jonah ran in the other direction when God called him to ministry in Nineveh, Pastor Tullian makes this assertion:

Do you know what would happen if every human being concluded that God’s way was the right way and God’s call the right call?  Every human problem would come to an end.  The root of every human problem is our desire to be our own god and to carry out justice in the way we ourselves are sure is best.

In all of human history, there has been only One who concluded – at every point, and in every way – that God’s way is always best and God’s call is always right.  Because of him, every human problem will someday come to an end.  In the meantime, we’ll never see the end of our own misery if we do not recognize Jesus, this one who so perfectly submitted to God’s way and God’s call. (pp. 33-34)

Jesus is indeed the only Way – and the only solution to human problems!

Tullian makes the important point – which many don’t consider – that Jesus is in the Bible throughout, not just in the New Testament:

…We make a huge mistake if we think we don’t really come across Jesus in the Bible until we reach the New Testament and the Gospels.  We encounter him in Genesis 1, when God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit come together for the purpose of creating everything out of nothing.  Then we see Jesus again in Genesis 3, when God promises that a seed from the woman will crush the serpent’s head.  All the rest of the Old Testament – including the book of Jonah – continues to build on that promise. (p. 34)

In reviewing Jonah verse by verse, the author shows that God often handles our rebellion this way:

When we run from God, his response is more likely to be stormy and upsetting than quiet and subtle.  He knows how to make us miserable.  And it makes those around us miserable as well:

Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god.  And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. (Jonah 1:5)  (p. 41)

That is a pretty good incentive to not run away from God!

I was intrigued by this perspective about what happens to us with regard to how close to or far away we are from God:

We see that those who flee from God become increasingly thin and insubstantial and see-through, while those who pursue him become progressively more real and intense and solid.  Those running from God become less human the farther they run; those running toward him become more human the closer they get.  The more human we are, the more we become what God wants us to become, and the better it is for those around us.  The less human we are, the worse it is for those around us.  (p. 43)

I had never thought of it that way, but the truth of that statement is apparent when you look at those who are obedient to God’s direction versus those who aren’t.

Throughout the book, Tullian reviews different depictions of Jonah by artists in different media through history (reprints of the artwork is included in the book as well).  The one that most touched me was ‘Jonah’ by David Sharir.  Tullian describes it this way:

Many artists in recent times have continued turning to Jonah as a favorite biblical subject.  One of the most memorable portraits of the prophet is by the Israeli artist David Sharir done in 1971.  In the upper right corner is a simple, stylized cargo ship, its hold filled with wares.  On deck stands the solitary figure of Jonah, carrying luggage in each hand.  His wide eyes look forward.  What destiny awaits him?  He looks unsure.

Behind and below him, a bordered box across the bottom of the artwork encloses an ancient city packed tightly with building, roofs, archways.  The city looks sizable and cosmopolitan.  Is this the seaport Joppa from which Jonah departs?  Or rather, could it represent Nineveh – from which the prophet wants to be as far away as possible?  Meanwhile, between Jonah’s boat in the upper corner and the crowded city down below, the biggest part of the painting is taken up with the blue immensity of the sea, as if it’s waiting to play a much bigger part in Jonah’s story. (p. 37)

One of the lessons we learn from the book of Jonah is that God’s mercy is massive:

The supreme example of this massive mercy is Jesus.  The incarnation of Christ tells us most emphatically how God spares nothing in going after those who run away.  God’s becoming man is anything but a quiet and subtle response from God to our running from him.  It’s a huge and loud statement.  It shows to us that God confronts human flight in the most outspoken, powerful way. (p. 52)

I really was comforted by this observation:

Submitting self to God is the only real freedom- because the deepest slavery is self-dependence, self-reliance.  When you live your life believing that everything (family, finances, relationships, career) depend primarily on you, you’re enslaved to your strengths and weaknesses.  You’re trying to be your own savior.  Freedom comes when we start trusting in God’s abilities and wisdom instead of our own.  Real life begins when we transfer our trust from our own efforts to the efforts of Christ.  (p. 53)

That concept, in my opinion, is one of the hardest for those of us in the USA to grasp.  We are taught from birth – or so it seems – that everything depends on our efforts.  What a relief to accept that that is not the case!

Tullian shares with us this truth:

…I’ve recognized this: the gospel shows us how to find two things in Christ that most of us long for more than anything else – acceptance and affection.  I’ve discovered that God, in Jesus, has richly provided me with these two things - both of which I was created for, wired for, and designed to experience.  They are, in fact, two fundamental marks of what it means to be human. (p. 157)

I was greatly encouraged by this book.  I have always been intrigued by the story of Jonah, and how his story is a foreshadowing of the resurrection of Jesus.  It was interesting for Pastor Tullian to bring in information from other theologians, authors, etc… – Charles Spurgeon, C.S. Lewis, Francis Thompson (author of the poem ‘The Hound of Heaven’, John Piper, etc…, as well as provide his commentary for each verse of Jonah.  I appreciate what I learned from this very valuable book, and am happy to see that the legacy of Billy Graham continues in this wonderful man.

You can order this book here.

Provided by Crossway for review and giveaway purposes.

_________________________________________________

I have TWO copies of this book that I would love to send along to two of you (thanks, Angie!)! 

There are several ways to gain entry:

1) Leave a comment here on the blog, telling me what your thoughts are on this book and its message, and what it is particular that is intriguing to you.  Please make sure to leave your email address in this format – sample[at]gmail[dot]com.

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So there are five chances to enter!  Please limit one entry per option.

This giveaway is for U.S. residents only.  The deadline for entry is Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EST.  A winner will be chosen via the Random Number Generator on Thursday, June 10, 2010 and will be contacted via email.  The best to all of you!

‘Chasing Francis’ by Ian Morgan Cron – Book Review

Many Christians today have some difficulty understanding how to really follow Christ with passion and love for their fellow man.  ‘Chasing Francis’ by Ian Morgan Cron, is a novel that is part travelogue and part history lesson; its main focus is on one of the greatest Jesus followers who ever lived, Francis of Assisi.

Here is the synopsis of ‘Chasing Francis’ from the back cover:

Chase Falson has lost his faith – and he did it right in front of the congregation at his megachurch.  Now the elders want him to take some time away: far away.  So Chase crosses the Atlantic to visit his uncle, a Franciscan priest, where he encounters the teachings of Francis of Assisi and rediscovers his ancient faith.

In this engaging, history-rich novel, you will journey with Chase in the footsteps of Francis, a journey in the footsteps of Francis, and then begin one of your own through the pilgrim’s guide included in this book.  Come discover Francis, the first postmodern Christian.

In the opening scene, Chase is on a jet headed to Florence, Italy.  He describes himself as he saw himself two years prior to that time:

Two years earlier I’d been Chase Falson, founding pastor of the largest contemporary evangelical church in New England.   My fourteen years in the ministry were a church-growth success story.  I’d considered myself one of the privileged few the heavens had endowed with a perfectly true compass.  I’d known who I was and where I was going, and I’d been certain that one day I would see the boxes checked neatly checked off next to each of my life goals.  I’d liked myself.  A lot.  (p. 13)

He goes on to explain what had just happened to him:

That world had detonated ten days ago.  Gazing down on the terracotta roofs dotting the approaching Tuscan hills, I found myself on a forced leave of absence, and chances were good that when I returned home I would be out of a job.

I had discovered that reaching the climax of a spiritual crisis in front of a thousand people is less than political.  In retrospect, I should have realized that I was standing on the edge of a yawning existential abyss.  Underground streams of doubt has been leeching into the well of my most deeply held beliefs for two years.  The scaffolding that supported my whole system of belief was shaking as if some unseen force were trying to pull me down. (p. 15)

Chase explains his mindset of late with regard to his Christian belief system:

I’d been shocked a few years ago when a friend from seminary converted to Catholicism because he felt evangelicals had “McDonaldized” Jesus.  I was starting to see his point. 

(p. 17)

After the church leadership decided he needed to take some time off, Chase decided, on a whim, to go visit his Uncle Kenny, who divided his time between friaries in Assisi and Rome.  Kenny had decided that Chase needed to ‘meet’ Francis; he described Francis this way:

“Francis was crazy enough to live more like Jesus than anyone else in history, and it changed the world.  People still call him ‘the last Christian.’” (p. 41)

Kenny explains to Chase that he needs to go on a pilgrimage:

“Think of it this way,” he continued, “a pilgrimage is a way of praying with your feet.  You go on a pilgrimage because you know there’s something missing inside your soul, and the only way you can find it is to go to sacred places, places where God made himself known to others.  In sacred places, something gets done to you that you’re unable to do for yourself.” (p. 42)

Ultimately, Kenny was persuasive, and they were on their way.

In one of Chase’s journal entries, he compares the church of Francis’ day with the current day:

Another similarity between the Middle Ages and today has to do with the state of Christendom.  In Francis’s day, the church was hemorrhaging credibility; it was seen as hypocritical, untrustworthy, and irrelevant.  Some people even wondered if it would survive.  Clergy was at the center of all kinds of sexual scandals.  It had commercialized Jesus, selling pardons, ecclesiastical offices, and relics.  Sermons were either so academic that people couldn’t understand them or they were canned.  Popular songs ridiculing the church and clergy could be heard all over Europe.  The laity felt used by the professional clergy, as if they were there to serve the institution, not the other way around.  The church had become dangerously entangled in the world of power politics and war.  Some fringe groups were beginning to say you couldn’t be a Catholic and a Christian at the same time.  Disillusionment with the church inspired many people to turn to astrologers and other alternative spiritualities. (pp. 45-46)

Does that sound familiar?!

Chase shared what he learned about Francis from his uncle and from the many books he’d been assigned to read:

Francis was a nutcase, but there’s something so genuine about him that it’s hard not to like him.  He wanted to become a knight and fight in the regional wars that often broke out between Assisi and the neighboring town… In a war with Perugia, Francis was taken prisoner and spent a year in prison waiting   for dad to pay a ransom for his release.  After he returned home, Francis was ill but refused to give up his dream of seeking glory as a knight – he signed up to go into battle again… The night before the battle, Francis had a dream that changed his life.  He heard a voice say, “Who can do more good for you?  The lord or the servant?”  Perplexed, Francis replied, “The lord.”  The voice in his dream responded, “Then why are you abandoning the lord for the servant?”  In a flash, Francis figured out who was speaking and said, “O Lord, what do you want me to do?”  And the voice said, “Return to Assisi, and what you are to do next will be revealed to you.” (p. 50)

Kenny and Chase had numerous discussions about Francis.  Kenny defined him this way:

“…Francis was a Catholic, an evangelical street preacher, a radical social activist, a contemplative who devoted hours to prayer, a mystic who had direct encounters with God, and someone who worshiped with all the enthusiasm and spontaneity of a Pentecostal.  He was a wonderful integration of all the theological streams we have today.” (p. 55)

One of Kenny’s colleagues was Brother Thomas.  Thomas shared with Chase what needed to happen in order to minister to others:

“Everywhere I go, I meet people, old and young, from all over the world, and they tell me about their lives, their relationships, broken families, their addictions, shame, guilt, failures.  You’ll never be able to speak into their souls unless you speak the truth about your own wounds.  You need to tell them what our Lord has come to mean to you in the midst of your disappointments and losses.  All ministry begins at the ragged edges of our own pain.” (p. 67)

Another colleague of Kenny, Peter, shared that Francis was a strong environmentalist.  Peter drew this conclusion about how Christians dealt with the earth today:

“It’s sad that we’ve made this into just a political issue when, in fact, it’s theological as well,” Peter added.  “If we continue allowing the earth to be destroyed, we’re actually working against the purposes of Jesus, who died for us.” (p. 79)

In addition to taking better care of God’s creation, this book also addresses the idea that art in all its forms – music, poetry, painting, etc... - should be embraced by the church.  The same goes for embracing peace instead of war.  A nun by the name of Irene, who was a key player in a peace conference attended by Chase, shared this insight about how Francis looked at peace:

“While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.  Nobody should ever be roused to wrath or insult by your account.  Everyone should rather be moved to peace, goodwill, and mercy because of your restraint.  For we have been called to the purpose of healing the wounded, binding up those who are bruised, and reclaiming the erring.” (p. 133)

In his journal entry, Chase wrote to Francis and praised his interpretation – and action –when it comes to Jesus’ teachings:

Francis, your genius was that you read stuff in the Bible (like the Sermon on the Mount) and you didn’t spiritualize or theologize it.  You heard Jesus say, “Happy are the peacemakers,” so you got up every day and embarked on a new peace mission.  My usual approach is to read the Bible, try to understand what he’s saying, and then apply it.  Your formula was the reverse.  You applied the Bible and then came to a fresh understanding of what it actually meant.  What a concept. (p. 137)

The time came for Chase to return stateside and meet with the elders.  I will not give away the result, but suffice to say that Chase Falson would never be the same after his encounter with Francis, who knew and understood the real Jesus - as opposed to the manufactured version - so very well.

Here is the biography of the author from his Facebook page and from the book’s back cover:

Ian Morgan Cron is senior pastor of Trinity Church in Greenwich, Connecticut, and is an ordained Anglican priest. He resides in Old Greenwich, Connecticut with his wife, Anne, and three children, Cailey, Maddie, and Aidan

According to his Facebook page, he and his family will be moving to Franklin, Tennessee, this summer.

I enjoyed this book, and learned a lot about Francis of Assisi.  Having grown up in the Roman Catholic Church, I was somewhat familiar with him; I was familiar with his love of animals more than anything!  But I am interested in learning more about him now.  Pastor Cron provides a Bibliography at the back of the book – a great resource for Francis information, as well as a very in-depth Study Guide – ‘Further Reflections for the Pilgrim’s Journey.’  I would highly recommend this to believers and non-believers alike who want to have a strong role model for how to live like Jesus in a tangible and practical way.

You can order this book here.

This book was provided by NavPress for review purposes.